A solution-processable and ultra-permeable conjugated microporous thermoset for selective hydrogen separation

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 1633 - 8
• Main Authors: Liu, Wei, Jiang, Shu-Dong, Yan, Youguo, Wang, Wensen, Li, Jing, Leng, Kai, Japip, Susilo, Liu, Jiangtao, Xu, Hai, Liu, Yanpeng, Park, In-Hyeok, Bao, Yang, Yu, Wei, Guiver, Michael D., Zhang, Sui, Loh, Kian Ping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 02.04.2020; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 119/118; 140/131; 140/146; 147/135; 147/143; 147/3; 639/301/299/1013; 639/4077/909/4086; 639/638/455/954; Carbon dioxide; Chemical synthesis; Crosslinking; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hydrogen; Membrane permeability; Membranes; multidisciplinary; Plastics; Polymers; Pores; Rigidity; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Selectivity; Separation; Thermosetting resins
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15503-6

The synthesis of a polymer that combines the processability of plastics with the extreme rigidity of cross-linked organic networks is highly attractive for molecular sieving applications. However, cross-linked networks are typically insoluble or infusible, preventing them from being processed as plastics. Here, we report a solution-processable conjugated microporous thermoset with permanent pores of ~0.4 nm, prepared by a simple heating process. When employed as a two-dimensional molecular sieving membrane for hydrogen separation, the membrane exhibits ultrahigh permeability with good selectivity for H 2 over CO 2 , O 2 , N 2 , CH 4 , C 3 H 6 and C 3 H 8 . The combined processability, structural rigidity and easy feasibility make this polymeric membrane promising for large-scale hydrogen separations of commercial and environmental relevance. Rigidity, as seen in crosslinked polymers, and plastic processability are mutually exclusive properties. Here, the authors prepare a solution-processable conjugated microporous thermoset with permanent pores and demonstrate its application as a two-dimensional molecular sieving membrane for hydrogen separation.