Modulation on interlayer channels of LDH/polymer hybrid membranes for
efficient CO2 separation
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets with thickness of one to several atoms
serve as ideal building units for separation membranes. Herein, we
report the construction of ultrathin membranes with layered double
hydroxides (LDHs) nanosheets, polyacrylic acid (PAA) and
polyethyleneimine (PEI) alternately deposited on porous substrates. The
chemical tuning of PEI leads to an accurate regulation of interlayer
spacing in angstrom scale, resulting in selective nanochannels for CO2
permeation. The laminar membranes with CO2 transport-facilitated
channels exhibit excellent gas separation performance and exceed the
limit of the state-of-the-art membranes with CO2 permeance of 1068 GPU,
CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 selectivity of 126 and 330 respectively. A
synergistic effect of solution-diffusion and molecular sieving was
proposed for this prominent CO2 separation performance. The strategy
demonstrated in this work would open up new avenues for effective CO2
separation and capture in recycling of carbon resources.