title: Ionic Liquids as the MOFs/Polymer Interfacial Binder for Efficient Membrane Separation.
abstract: Obtaining strong interfacial affinity between filler and polymer is critical to the preparation of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) with high separation efficiency. However, it is still a challenge for micron-sized metal organic frameworks (MOFs) to achieve excellent compatibility and defect-free interface with polymer matrix. Thin layer of ionic liquid (IL) was immobilized on micron-sized HKUST-1 to eliminate the interfacial nonselective voids in MMMs with minimized free ionic liquid (IL) in polymer matrix, and then the obtained IL decorated HKUST-1 was incorporated into 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride-2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,3-phenyldiamine (6FDA-Durene) to fabricate MMMs. Acting as a filler/polymer interfacial binder, the favorable MOF/IL and IL/polymer interaction can facilitate the enhancement of MOF/polymer affinity. Compared to MMM with only HKUST-1 incorporation, MMM with IL decorated HKUST-1 succeeded in restricting the formation of nonselective interfacial voids, leading to an increment in CO2selectivity. The IL decoration method can be an effective approach to eliminate interfacial voids in MMMs, extending the filler selection to a wide range of large-sized fillers.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and ‡Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis, Faculty of Science, The University of Queensland , Brisbane 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Rijia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and ‡Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis, Faculty of Science, The University of Queensland , Brisbane 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and ‡Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis, Faculty of Science, The University of Queensland , Brisbane 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Diao
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and ‡Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis, Faculty of Science, The University of Queensland , Brisbane 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and ‡Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis, Faculty of Science, The University of Queensland , Brisbane 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Zhonghua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
keywords: gas separation; interfacial binder; ionic liquid; metal−organic frameworks; mixed matrix membrane