Unprecedented size-sieving ability in polybenzimidazole doped with polyprotic acids for membrane H2/CO2 separation

Zhu, Lingxiang; Swihart, Mark T.; Lin, Haiqing

doi:10.1039/c7ee02865b

Unprecedented size-sieving ability in polybenzimidazole doped with polyprotic acids for membrane H₂/CO₂ separation

Journal Article · Tue Dec 12 00:00:00 EST 2017 · Energy & Environmental Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/c7ee02865b· OSTI ID:1659662

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Univ. at Buffalo, NY (United States); University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Univ. at Buffalo, NY (United States)

Polymers with efficient and tight chain-packing and thus strong size-sieving ability are of great interest for H₂/CO₂ separation. In this communication, we demonstrate a new approach to manipulating polymer structure by acid doping, leading to superior H₂/CO₂ separation performance. We have doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) with polyprotic acids, specifically H₃PO₄ and H₂SO₄. These acids cross-link PBI chains and drastically decrease free volume, improving the material's H₂/CO₂ selectivity to far surpass the Robeson's 2008 upper bound for membrane performance. For example, PBI doped with H₃PO₄ at a molar ratio of 1 : 1 exhibits an unprecedented H₂/CO₂ selectivity of 140 at 150 °C, which exceeds that of previously known polymeric materials and is superior or comparable to that of state-of-the-art 2D materials with sharp size separation, such as graphene oxide, MoS₂, and metal–organic frameworks. This facile approach to enhancing polymer chain-packing efficiency opens up a new avenue for designing strong size-sieving polymers for membrane gas separations.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. at Buffalo, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0026463

OSTI ID:: 1659662

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1539930

Journal Information:: Energy & Environmental Science, Journal Name: Energy & Environmental Science Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 11; ISSN 1754-5692

Publisher:: Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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