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Related Experiment Video

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Electrophoretic Crystallization of Ultrathin High-performance Metal-organic Framework Membranes

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Published on: August 16, 2018

Binary-Cooperative Patterned-Crisscrossing Membranes with Gas Separation.

Bo Wang¹, Huang Du¹, Yi-Dan Hou¹

¹Tianjin Key Laboratory of Life and Health Detection, Life and Health Intelligent Research Institute, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

|June 11, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a novel patterned-crisscrossing polymer (PCCP) membrane for efficient gas separation. This design overcomes limitations of traditional membranes, achieving high gas permeation and selectivity under high pressure.

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Chemical Engineering

Background:

Polymer membranes are crucial for gas separation due to cost and processability.
Cross-linking enhances polymer membrane performance but faces trade-offs between permeability and selectivity under high pressure.

Purpose of the Study:

To design a polymer membrane capable of maintaining high gas permeation and selectivity under high pressure.
To overcome the limitations of conventional single-cross-linking membranes.

Main Methods:

A nature-inspired patterned-crisscrossing polymer (PCCP) membrane was designed using a zone-thermal-cross-linking strategy.
The membrane features alternating high- and low-cross-linking zones to create a cooperative stress transfer and swelling inhibition effect.

Main Results:

The optimal PCCP membrane achieved a CO2 permeance of 4973 GPU and a CO2/CH4 selectivity of 42 at 3.0 MPa.
This represents a four-fold enhancement compared to conventional single-cross-linking membranes.
The PCCP structure maintained structural stability and high permselectivity simultaneously.

Conclusions:

The patterned design concept offers a new approach for next-generation molecularly selective membranes.
PCCP membranes show promise for industrial gas separation under harsh conditions.