Membrane Science and Technology

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Fabrication of highly CO2 permeable MOF nanosheets-based mixed
matrix membranes for CO2/H2 separation

Authors： CHEN Mengzhu1,2, SHU Lun2, JIAO Chengli2, ZHANG Xiaoqian2,
PANG Long2, GAO Jun1, JIANG Heqing2

Units： 1. College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology,
Qingdao 266590, China; 2. Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, China

KeyWords： gas separation; metal-organic frameworks nanosheets; mixed matrix membranes; high permeability

ClassificationCode：TQ028.8

year,volume(issue):pagination： 2026, 46(3):78-88

Abstract：

Gas separation membranes with high permeability and practical selectivity are essential for reducing the energy consumption and cost of carbon capture, such as CO2/H2 separation. However, conventional polymer membranes suffer from disordered chain packing and low free volume. These intrinsic limitations restrict gas permeability. Physical aging further undermines long-term separation stability. Here, we reported a pillared nickel-based metal-organic framework [Ni(HBTC)(4,4′-bipy)] nanosheets mixed matrix membrane, denoted as Ni-MOF NS@PDMS. High-aspect-ratio MOF nanosheets were obtained by regulating crystal growth. The nanosheets spontaneously adopted a horizontal orientation within the membrane while maintaining excellent interfacial compatibility with the PDMS matrix. The incorporation of MOF nanosheets increased the membrane free volume, restricted polymer chain mobility, and facilitated CO2 transport via fully exposed Ni metal sites. Under the optimal filler loading of 20%, the membrane achieved a CO2/H2 separation factor of 5 and a high CO2 permeability of ~20 000 Barrer. This separation performance markedly outperformed previously reported separation membranes. The membrane also showed excellent operational stability over a 200 h of continuous operation. This work demonstrates a promising membrane with strong potential for practical CO2/H2 separation applications.

Funds：

山东省重点研发计划资助(2023CXGC010417)；国家重点研发计划项目(2022YFB4003200)；国家自然科学基金项目 (22408381/22308365)；国家资助博士后研究人员计划项目(GZB20240782)；中国博士后科学基金面上项目(2024M753354)；山东省自然科学基金项目(ZR2024QB048)；山东省泰山学者(tstp20221151)；山东省重点研发计划项目(2024CXPT030)

AuthorIntro：

第一作者简介：陈梦珠（2001-），女，山东泰安人，硕士研究生，研究方向为气体分离膜.*通讯作者，束伦，E-mail: kunlun@qibebt.ac.cn；高军，E-mail: gao@sdust.edu.cn

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