Dual-module integration of large-area tubular 2D MXene membranes for H2 purification

Abstract

Construction of large-area two-dimensional (2D) nanosheet membranes for gas separation, particularly tubular membranes, is extremely challenging. Here, electrophoretic deposition technology was employed to construct large-area tubular 2D MXene membranes for H2/CO2 gas separation, where the membrane with a single tube area of 25 cm2 could be successfully manufactured in approximately 5 min under optimal process conditions. The membrane exhibited good H2/CO2 separation performance with H2/CO2 selectivity of 53.0 and hydrogen permeance of 133.8 GPU, exceeding the 2008 Robeson upper bound, and showed excellent stability in long-term test with water vapor evaluations for more than 350 h. Additionally, some engineering issues and operation parameters concerning the separation performance of H2/CO2 in single-module and dual-module separators have been thoroughly investigated and analyzed. This work has taken an important step toward the industrialization of 2D MXene membranes and also provided significant guidance to other 2D material-based membranes in approaching practical applications.