Healable, Recyclable, and Upcyclable Gel Membranes for Efficient Carbon Dioxide Separation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Ionic liquids (ILs) are effective for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture but ionogel membranes face challenges with mechanical stability and recyclability.
• High IL content in membranes is desirable for CO2 selectivity but often compromises structural integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop robust and sustainable ionogel membranes with high ionic liquid content for efficient gas separation.
• To enhance mechanical strength, eliminate leakage, and improve recyclability of ionogel membranes.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized ionogel membranes using copolymerized and supramolecularly bound ionic liquids.
• Investigated mechanical properties, CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 selectivity, and CO2 permeability.
• Assessed self-healing, recyclability, and upcycling potential into ionic skins for sensing.

Main Results:

• Achieved ionogel membranes with high mechanical strength, zero leakage, and excellent self-healing and recycling capabilities.
• Demonstrated superior CO2/nitrogen selectivity (61.7) and CO2/methane selectivity (24.6) compared to existing ionogel membranes.
• Reported CO2 permeability of 186.4 Barrer and successful upcycling into ionic skins for sensing applications.

Conclusions:

• Molecularly engineered ionogel membranes offer a sustainable and high-performance solution for advanced gas separation.
• The developed materials provide a promising pathway for next-generation CO2 capture and sensing technologies.