| Summary: | Polymer-based mixed-matrix nanocomposites are increasingly researched as gas separation
membranes. In contrast to the conventional single-filler mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs), here
in this thesis study, I examined the utility of ternary-component MMMs for gas separation
applications. The strategy employed in this thesis was to develop Matrimid-based MMMs using
filler and a polymeric compatibilizer. As the filler, I selected a well-known oxygen carrier, cobalt
phthalocyanine. As the compatibilizer, I employed a block copolymer, Pluronic F-127. The
ternary-component membrane exhibited 64% improvement in O2 permeability and 40%
improvement in O2/N2 selectivity. To improve the selectivity, I focused on a high-permeability
polymer, ODPA-TMPDA, as the next step. The filler (cobalt (III) acetylacetonate) successfully
improved the selectivity but at the cost of permeability. Thus, I examined a porous covalent
organic framework, SNW-1, together with cobalt (III) acetylacetonate as the next step. This
strategy improved both O2 permeability and O2/N2 selectivity. Due to the success of ODPATMPDA-
based ternary-component membrane for O2/N2 separation, I have used ODPA-TMPDA
for the development of another ternary-component membrane for CO2/CH4 separation. In this
final step of the thesis work, I have incorporated 2D CuBDC nanosheets and 3D ZIF-8
nanoparticles to improve CO2/CH4 selectivity and CO2 permeability, respectively. Overall, this
study demonstrates the potential of ternary-component MMMs for developing gas separation
membranes that can surmount Robeson’s Upper Bound relation for permeability-selectivity
trade-off.
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