Synergistic effect of combining carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide in mixed matrix membranes for efficient CO2 separation

Abstract

Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were fabricated by incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene oxide (GO) into a Matrimid® matrix to improve CO2 separation performance. The combination of CNTs and GO exerted a favorable synergistic effect on the permselectivity of membranes. The extraordinary smooth walls of CNTs acted as a highway to render high permeability, whereas the graphene oxide nanosheets acted as a selective barrier to render high selectivity through the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups on GO surface in MMMs. The MMMs doped with both CNTs and GO had better gas separation performance than those doped with only CNTs or GO. Efficient CO2 transport pathways were constructed by homogeneous dispersion of CNTs and GO within MMMs, leading to both enhanced permeability and selectivity. The membrane combining 5wt% of CNTs and 5wt% of GO (Matrimid®-CNTs/GO-5/5) displayed the optimum performance with a CO2 permeability of 38.07Barrer, a CO2/CH4 selectivity of 84.60 and a CO2/N2 selectivity of 81.00. Compared to pure Matrimid® membrane, the CO2 permeability, CO2/CH4 selectivity and CO2/N2 selectivity of the Matrimid®-CNTs/GO-5/5 membrane were increased by 331%, 149%, 147%, respectively.