An Untrodden Path: Versatile Fabrication of Self-Supporting Polymer-Stabilized Percolation Membranes (PSPMs) for Gas Separation

Abstract

The preparation and scalability of zeolite or metal organic framework (MOF) membranes remains a major challenge, and thus prevents the application of these materials in large-scale gas separation. Additionally, several zeolite or MOF materials are quite difficult or nearly impossible to grow as defect-free layers, and require expensive macroporous ceramic or polymer supports. Here, we present new self-supporting zeolite and MOF composite membranes, called Polymer-Stabilized Percolation Membranes (PSPMs), consisting of a pressed gas selective percolation network (in our case ZIF-8, NaX and MIL-140) and a gas-impermeable infiltrated epoxy resin for cohesion. We demonstrate the performance of these PSPMs by separating binary mixtures of H2/CO2 and H2/CH4. We report the brickwork-like architecture featuring selective percolation pathways and the polymer as a stabilizer, compare the mechanical stability of said membranes with competing materials, and give an outlook on how economic these membranes may become.