MoS2 Nanosheets Functionalized Composite Mixed Matrix Membrane for Enhanced CO2 Capture via Surface Drop-Coating...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Two-dimensional materials like molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) offer unique properties for membrane-based gas separations.
• Developing high-performance membranes for efficient carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2) separation is crucial for environmental applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets as an inorganic nanofiller in composite mixed matrix membranes for CO2/N2 separation.
• To enhance the CO2 permeance and selectivity of Pebax-based membranes by incorporating MoS2 nanosheets.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a composite mixed matrix membrane using polysulfone (PSf) support, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) gutter layer, and a selective layer of CO2-philic copolymer Pebax 1657 mixed with MoS2 nanosheets.
• Utilized a simple drop-coating and evaporation method for selective layer preparation.
• Characterized membrane performance in terms of CO2 and N2 permeability and selectivity.

Main Results:

• The MoS2-Pebax composite membrane demonstrated superior CO2/N2 separation performance compared to the pristine Pebax membrane.
• Maximum permeability and selectivity values of 64 Barrer and 93, respectively, were achieved at 0.15 wt % MoS2 loading, positioning the membrane on the Robeson's upper bound.
• The membrane exhibited enhanced stability and separation performance attributed to the solution-diffusion mechanism and stronger CO2 adsorption by MoS2.

Conclusions:

• Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets are effective inorganic nanofillers for enhancing the performance of CO2/N2 separation membranes.
• The developed MoS2-Pebax composite membrane offers a promising pathway for efficient gas separation applications.
• The incorporation of MoS2 improves both permeability and selectivity, aligning with advanced separation technology goals.