title: Halloysite nanotube-based electrospun ceramic nanofibre mat: a novel support for zeolite membranes.
abstract: Some key parameters of supports such as porosity, pore shape and size are of great importance for fabrication and performance of zeolite membranes. In this study, we fabricated millimetre-thick, self-standing electrospun ceramic nanofibre mats and employed them as a novel support for zeolite membranes. The nanofibre mats were prepared by electrospinning a halloysite nanotubes/polyvinyl pyrrolidone composite followed by a programmed sintering process. The interwoven nanofibre mats possess up to 80% porosity, narrow pore size distribution, low pore tortuosity and highly interconnected pore structure. Compared with the commercial α-Al2O3supports prepared by powder compaction and sintering, the halloysite nanotube-based mats (HNMs) show higher flux, better adsorption of zeolite seeds, adhesion of zeolite membranes and lower Al leaching. Four types of zeolite membranes supported on HNMs have been successfully synthesized with eitherin situcrystallization or a secondary growth method, demonstrating good universality of HNMs for supporting zeolite membranes.
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nano-Micro Materials Research, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology , Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School , Shenzhen 518055 , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhuwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering , The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology , Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong SAR , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiaying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering , The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology , Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong SAR , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nano-Micro Materials Research, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology , Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School , Shenzhen 518055 , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jinqiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nano-Micro Materials Research, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology , Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School , Shenzhen 518055 , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nano-Micro Materials Research, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology , Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School , Shenzhen 518055 , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Water Desalinization with Renewable Energy, School of Environment and Energy , Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School , Shenzhen 518055 , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ruili
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nano-Micro Materials Research, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology , Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School , Shenzhen 518055 , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9342-5395
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering , The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology , Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong SAR , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jingshen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
keywords: ceramic membrane; electrospin; halloysite; nanofibre; zeolite