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Highly CO 2 ‐Permeable and ‐Selective Membranes Derived from Crosslinked Poly(ethylene glycol) and Its Nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Patel N. P.,
Miller A. C.,
Spontak R. J.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.200305136
Subject(s) - materials science , ethylene glycol , permeation , fumed silica , nanocomposite , membrane , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , methacrylate , amorphous solid , polymer , solubility , activation energy , organic chemistry , composite material , copolymer , chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
Crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate) (PEGda) oligomers differing in molecular weight, and their nanocomposites prepared with up to 10 wt.‐% methacrylate‐functionalized fumed silica (FS) or an organically‐modified nanoclay, have been examined as amorphous CO 2 ‐selective membranes. These novel materials have been characterized by dynamic rheology before and after crosslinking to ascertain the effect of incorporated FS on mechanical properties. The permeabilities of CO 2 , H 2 , N 2 , and O 2 have been measured as functions of PEGda molecular weight, nanofiller content and temperature. In all cases, CO 2 displays relatively high permeability, coupled with high CO 2 selectivity, due to the specific interaction between quadrupolar CO 2 and the ether linkages along the PEG backbone, and the accompanying enhancement in CO 2 solubility. Variable‐temperature permeation exhibits Arrhenius behavior, and the activation energy for CO 2 permeation is found to be i) markedly lower than that of any of the other gases examined, and ii) independent of both PEGda molecular weight and nanofiller content.