Using a Ni/polyamideimide sol as a template, a nanoporous carbon membrane was prepared in a single coating
by means of a novel technique: the carbonization of a nickel-containing polyamideimide precursor combined
with the catalytic decomposition of methane in a nitrogen atmosphere. The separation performance of the
membrane was significantly better than that fabricated by a single coating and conventional pyrolysis, even
as good as or better than those for three-coating carbon membranes. This procedure significantly reduced the
cost of the membrane production and provided a promising technical way for the preparation of carbon
membrane. The surface and cross-sectional morphologies, the composition, and the microstructure of the
carbon membranes were characterized by means of SEM-EDX, AFM, and XRD techniques. The properties
of the precursor and membranes were investigated by FT-IR absorption spectra and H2-TPD.