Pushing CO2-philic membrane performance to the limit by designing semi-interpenetrating networks (SIPN) for sustainable CO2 separations

Abstract

Semi-interpenetrating network (SIPN) membranes with unprecedentedly high CO₂ permeability were designed and synthesized simply through one-step, UV-induced radical polymerization. The in situ embedment of linear polyethylene glycol as a “CO₂ transport promoter” in membranes can dramatically enhance both CO₂ solubility and diffusivity to push SIPN membrane performance beyond Robeson's upper bound line (2008). This extremely facile performance-manipulating strategy establishes our CO₂-philic SIPN membranes as an exciting platform for sustainable CO₂ separations.