Reusable methyltrimethoxysilane-based mesoporous water-repellent silica aerogel membranes for CO2 capture

Abstract

For the first time, highly mesoporous and water-repellent SiO₂ aerogels were successfully coated onto a macroporous Al₂O₃ membrane using methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) precursors. The MTMS-derived hydrophobic SiO₂ aerogel membranes exhibited at least 500% higher CO₂ absorption flux than the uncoated MTMS-based aerogel membranes and could be reused and continuously operated for CO₂ absorption for extended periods of time. As a result, MTMS-derived water-repellent silica aerogel membrane contactors are a potential candidate for large-scale CO₂ absorption in industrial power plants.