Quantum Mediated Reverse Kinetic Molecular Seiving in Microporous Materials

Abstract

We observe reverse kinetic molecular sieving of hydrogen and deuterium in zeolite Rho at low temperatures, when the quantum effects are incorporated via the Feynman-Hibbs approach. The diffusivities of confined fluids decrease when quantum effects are considered, in contrast to bulk fluids, which show an increase in self diffusivity. At low temperatures, the heavier isotope, deuterium, diffuses faster than hydrogen. The flux selectivity is sufficiently large to indicate potential for isotope separation using microporous materials.