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Controlled thermal oxidative crosslinking of polymers of intrinsic microporosity towards tunable molecular sieve membranes

Author

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  • Qilei Song

    (Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge
    Imperial College London)

  • Shuai Cao

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Robyn H. Pritchard

    (Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge)

  • Behnam Ghalei

    (Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), Kyoto University)

  • Shaheen A. Al-Muhtaseb

    (Qatar University)

  • Eugene M. Terentjev

    (Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge)

  • Anthony K. Cheetham

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Easan Sivaniah

    (Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge
    Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), Kyoto University)

Abstract

Organic open frameworks with well-defined micropore (pore dimensions below 2 nm) structure are attractive next-generation materials for gas sorption, storage, catalysis and molecular level separations. Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) represent a paradigm shift in conceptualizing molecular sieves from conventional ordered frameworks to disordered frameworks with heterogeneous distributions of microporosity. PIMs contain interconnected regions of micropores with high gas permeability but with a level of heterogeneity that compromises their molecular selectivity. Here we report controllable thermal oxidative crosslinking of PIMs by heat treatment in the presence of trace amounts of oxygen. The resulting covalently crosslinked networks are thermally and chemically stable, mechanically flexible and have remarkable selectivity at permeability that is three orders of magnitude higher than commercial polymeric membranes. This study demonstrates that controlled thermochemical reactions can delicately tune the topological structure of channels and pores within microporous polymers and their molecular sieving properties.

Suggested Citation

  • Qilei Song & Shuai Cao & Robyn H. Pritchard & Behnam Ghalei & Shaheen A. Al-Muhtaseb & Eugene M. Terentjev & Anthony K. Cheetham & Easan Sivaniah, 2014. "Controlled thermal oxidative crosslinking of polymers of intrinsic microporosity towards tunable molecular sieve membranes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms5813
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5813
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiuling Chen & Yanfang Fan & Lei Wu & Linzhou Zhang & Dong Guan & Canghai Ma & Nanwen Li, 2021. "Ultra-selective molecular-sieving gas separation membranes enabled by multi-covalent-crosslinking of microporous polymer blends," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.

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