title: Enhanced Performance of Polyurethane Hybrid Membranes for CO2 Separation by Incorporating Graphene Oxide: The Relationship between Membrane Performance and Morphology of Graphene Oxide.
abstract: Polyurethane hybrid membranes containing graphene oxide (GO) with different morphologies were prepared by in situ polymerization. The separation of CO2/N2 gas mixtures was studied using these novel membranes. The results from the morphology characterization of GO samples indicated that the oxidation process in the improved Hummers method introduced oxygenated functional groups into graphite, making graphite powder exfoliate into GO nanosheets. The surface defects on the GO sheets increased when oxidation increased due to the introduction of more oxygenated functional groups. Both the increase in oxygenated functional groups on the GO surface and the decrease in the number of GO layers leads to a better distribution of GO in the polymer matrix, increasing thermal stability and gas separation performance of membranes. The addition of excess oxidant destroyed the structure of GO sheets and forms structural defects, which depressed the separation performance of membranes. The hybrid membranes containing well-distributed GO showed higher permeability and permeability selectivity for the CO2. The formation of GO aggregates in the hybrid membranes depressed the membrane performance at a high content of GO.
authors.affiliation: †School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: †School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: ‡Center for Membrane and Water Science, Ocean College, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.
authors.forename: Jiang-nan
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: †School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China.
authors.forename: Li-guang
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: §Department of Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering for Sustainable Systems (ProcESS), KU Leuven, W. de Croylaan 46, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van der Bruggen
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005591:Chemical Fractionation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D010539:Permeability; D058105:Polymerization; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010087:Oxides; D011140:Polyurethanes; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006108:Graphite; D009584:Nitrogen