Highly selective multilayer polymer thin films for CO2/N2 separation. Issue 23 (14th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Song, Yixuan; Lugo, Elva L.; Powell, Stuart; Tzeng, Ping; Wilhite, Benjamin A.; Grunlan, Jaime C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of polymer science. Volume 55:Issue 23(2017)
• Page Start: 1730
• Page End: 1737
• Publication Date: 2017-08-14
• Subjects: CO2/N2 selectivity -- gas separation -- layer‐by‐layer assembly -- nanocoating -- polyelectrolyte; 547
• DOI: 10.1002/polb.24421
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0887-6266

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Multilayer thin films of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), deposited via layer‐by‐layer (LbL) assembly from aqueous solutions, are investigated for CO2 /N2 separation. Eight and ten bilayer (217 and 389 nm thick, respectively) PEO/PMAA thin films deposited on a 25 μm polystyrene substrate exhibit CO2 /N2 selectivities of 142 and 136, respectively. These are the highest reported to‐date for this gas pair separation using a homogeneous polymer film. While further work remains to improve CO2 permeability, these results indicate the potential of LbL assemblies as standalone CO2 separation membranes for low‐flux/high‐purity applications, or as part of a composite and/or mixed‐matrix membrane for high‐flux applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys.2017, 55, 1730–1737 Abstract : A highly selective multilayer nanocoating for CO2 /N2 separation is demonstrated. This polymer membrane is assembled with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) polyelectrolytes using layer‐by‐layer (LbL) assembly from aqueous solutions. An 8 bilayer of this hydrogen‐bonded multilayer film, assembled at pH 2 and with a thickness of 217 nm, exhibited a CO2 /N2 selectivity of 142. This is the highest selectivity reported to‐date for this gas pair separation using a homogeneous polymer film.