HKUST‑1 Synthesis in PET Track-Etched Membranes via Conversion of Deposited Cu for Carbon Dioxide Capture

Climate change remains one of the most critical global challenges, largely driven by the rise in atmospheric CO₂ levels. Effective strategies for capturing and utilizing CO₂ are crucial to mitigate its environmental impact. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), particularly HKUST-1 (MOF-199), are promising materials due to their high surface area, porosity, and tunable properties. In this study, HKUST-1 was successfully immobilized on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) track-etched membranes, leveraging the membranes' well-defined porosity and chemical stability. Membrane characterization via SEM revealed uniform coverage of octahedral HKUST-1 crystals with sizes ranging from 0.15 μm (inside the pores) to 1.5-5 μm (on the surface of the membrane). BET analysis of the PET TeMs-HKUST-1 composite membrane indicated a specific surface area of up to 382 m²/g. XRD confirmed the crystallinity of the HKUST-1 structure. The composite membranes exhibited CO₂ sorption capabilities, with an adsorption capacity of 0.53 ± 0.03 mmol/g (after 1 h of adsorption) in the first cycle for the solvothermal method and 0.31 ± 0.02 mmol/g (after 1 h of adsorption) for the solvoshaker method. Durability tests demonstrated a stable performance over 12 adsorption-desorption cycles. These results highlight the potential of PET TeMs-HKUST-1 composite membranes for scalable and efficient CO₂ capture, contributing to the development of sustainable solutions for addressing climate change.