Prestructured<scp>MXene</scp>fillers with uniform channels to enhance<scp>CO<sub>2</sub></scp>selective permeation in mixed matrix membranes
Weixin Guan, Xiaochen Yang, Chen‐Yuan Dong, Xiaoming Yan, Wenji Zheng, Yuan Xi, Xuehua Ruan, Yan Dai, Gaohong He
Abstract
Abstract The packing pattern of two‐dimensional (2D) sheet‐like fillers in membranes is relatively random, leading to the unfavorable permeability from tortuous diffusion pathway. A new strategy that using prestructured materials with uniform channels as fillers was proposed. In this work, Ti 3 AlC 2 is etched to prepare multilayered MXene (m‐MXene), the channels aggregate as a whole unit, ensure the impossibility of ineffective packing compared with traditional individual sheets, largely facilitating the selective permeation. Then, the m‐MXene/Poly (amide‐6‐b‐ethylene oxide) (Pebax) MMMs are synthesized. SEM images demonstrate the accordion shaped structure of filler, which is the multi‐channels laminates. Furthermore, the results of gas permeation test exhibit enhanced performance of m‐MXene/Pebax MMMs. MMM with 0.5 wt.% m‐MXene behaved best, CO 2 permeability of 86.22 Barrer as well as CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 104.85, transcending the Robeson upper bound (2008). Having distinct enhancement for CO 2 separation, the m‐MXene/Pebax MMMs in this work offer prospective practical applications.