Self‐Assembled Facilitated Transport Membranes with Tunable Carrier Distribution for Ethylene/Ethane Separation

Abstract

Facilitated transport membranes (FTMs) are a forward-looking technology and have triggered revolutions in many energy-intensive gas separations. However, the precise manipulation of carrier distribution within FTMs, as well as the visualization of membrane structure at the nanoscale, has never been reported. Herein, FTMs are constructed with tunable carrier distribution by a facile ion/molecule self-assembly of protic ionic liquid crystal salts (PILSs), polyol, and ethylene-transport carrier for highly efficient sub-angstrom scale ethylene/ ethane (0.416nm/0.443nm) separation. The elaborate regulation of non-covalent interactions by optimizing the ion/molecule compositions within membrane confers the bi-continuous nanostructure of FTMs, resulting in the formation of successive carrier wires and enormous 3D interconnected ethylene transport pathways, which is verified and visualized by molecular dynamics simulations and synchronous small-and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SWAXS). The as-designed FTMs manifest simultaneously super-high selectivity, excellent ethylene permeance, and robust long-term stability, which exceeds previously reported ethylene/ethane separation membranes. This study clearly draws the first picture of carrier distribution within FTMs, and deep insight into membrane structure will shed light on the design of high-performance separation membranes for energy-intensive gas separations.

Biomass Solid‐State Electrolyte with Abundant Ion and Water Channels for Flexible Zinc–Air Batteries

“…The nanostructure of biomass SSEs and related channels for OH − conduction are visualized by molecular dynamics simulation. [ 19 ] Due to the covalent‐bond restraint and nanoconfined environment, biomass SSEs exhibit the layered nanostructure with successive OH − wires, which significantly differ from the traditional AEM‐type electrolytes with nanophase‐separation morphology. [ 20 ] As revealed by Figures a and S8 (Supporting Information), the NH 2 and C═O groups of PAM chains on the WCNF surface are aggregated together to form a highly hydrophilic layer, which are attached by numerous water molecules due to hydrogen‐bond interactions, thus forming abundant water channels.…”

Deep Eutectic Solvent Membranes Designed by the Same-Anion Strategy for Highly Efficient Ethylene/Ethane Separation

“…DESMs were prepared by a pressureassisted infiltration method. 34 Prior to membrane fabrication, the HBAs and DESs were synthesized (Figure 1, Supporting Information), and AgCF 3 SO 3 −DES mixed solutions with different carrier concentrations were obtained by dissolving the desired amount of AgCF 3 SO 3 in DES at 60 °C with stirring for 4 h to endure the complete dissolution, followed by cooling to room temperature. Subsequently, the PVDF membrane was kept in a vacuum drying oven at 60 °C for 3 h to remove the trace water from the pores, and AgCF 3 SO 3 −DES mixed solution was uniformly casted on the surface of the PVDF membrane.…”

“…DESMs were prepared by a pressure-assisted infiltration method . Prior to membrane fabrication, the HBAs and DESs were synthesized (Figure , Supporting Information), and AgCF 3 SO 3 –DES mixed solutions with different carrier concentrations were obtained by dissolving the desired amount of AgCF 3 SO 3 in DES at 60 °C with stirring for 4 h to endure the complete dissolution, followed by cooling to room temperature.…”