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Published on: August 16, 2018
Architecture-Engineered Semi-Crystalline Microporous Polymer Membranes for Precise Molecular Separation
Zi-Meng Xu1, Hao Zhuo1, Song-Hui Zhi1
1School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, School of Chemistry, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), OFMMT, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
|August 5, 2026
Summary
We developed semi-crystalline polymer membranes with ordered stacking to enhance fractional free volume (FFV) and separation performance. This breakthrough improves membrane stability and achieves record-high methanol permeability and selectivity.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Science
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Amorphous polymer membranes exhibit low fractional free volume (FFV), hindering separation efficiency and operational stability due to structural flexibility.
- Constraining segmental motion is key to overcoming limitations in current polymer membrane technology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer semi-crystalline polymer membranes with enhanced FFV and improved separation performance.
- To investigate the impact of π-π-driven ordered stacking on membrane structure and function.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Random Forest (RF) analysis to identify optimal substructures for high FFV.
- Employed organic-organic interfacial polymerization (OOIP) to create semi-crystalline DATP membranes with ordered domains.
- Investigated the membrane's structural characteristics, including FFV and domain arrangements.
Main Results:
- The developed DATP membrane exhibits a 14% increase in FFV (35.5%) compared to amorphous membranes.
- Achieved record-high methanol permeability (2779 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹ nm) and superior selectivity.
- Demonstrated effective separation of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), achieving 50-fold enrichment and higher selectivity than commercial membranes.
Conclusions:
- Semi-crystalline polymer membranes with π-π-driven ordered stacking offer a promising strategy to enhance FFV and separation performance.
- The tunable structure combines well-defined pore architecture with scalable fabrication, advancing membrane technology.
- This approach provides a pathway to overcome the inherent limitations of amorphous polymer membranes for diverse separation applications.
