• Membrane Journal
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.107-119
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• 2002

Carbon-silica ($C-SiO_2$) membranes can be easily prepared by the pyrolysis of two-phase copolymers containing an aromatic imide block and a siloxane block and remarkably high permselectivities of $He/N_2, O_2/N_2,$ and $CO_2/N_2$. The pyrolysis of the imide-siloxane block copolymers was carried out at different final temperatures, $600^{\circ}C, 800^{\circ}C,$ and $1000^{\circ}C$ under an inert atmosphere, and is the first reported case of the precursors being used for the preparation of carbon membrane. The polymeric precursors were synthesized in a wide range of siloxane content and different final morphology, and the pyrolozed membranes were tested with a high vacuum time-lag method at $25^{\circ}C$ and 76cmHg of feed pressure. In experiments with He, $CO_2, O_2 \;and \;N_2$, the membranes were found to have good $O_2/N_2$ selectivity up to 32.2 and $O_2$ permeability on the order of $10-8/cm^2(STP)cm/cm^2seccmHg.$.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2012

In this study, we investigated permeation of single gas ($N_2$, $O_2$, $CF_4$, and $SF_6$) through flat sheet membrane composed of PDMS (poly-dimethylsiloxane) and PEBAX (polyether block amides). Gas permeation experiment was performed with various feed pressure. Permeability was estimated using permeation flux measured by continuous-flow technique. The permeability of gases except $SF_6$ in PDMS were decreased with the upstream pressure increased. $SF_6$ is much more permeable than $CF_4$, which is due to higher critical temperature of $SF_6$. The permeability decreased in the following order: $O_2$ > $N_2$ > $SF_6$ > $CF_4$. On the other hand, the permeability of gases in PEBAX followed the order: $O_2$ > $N_2$ > $CF_4$ > $SF_6$ which are opposite of the order of kinematic diameter (${\AA}$)($SF_6$ > $CF_4$ > $N_2$ > $O_2$). The $SF_6/CF_4$ pure gas selectivity in PDMS was 2.1 at 0.7 MPa.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.278-289
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• 2010

A series of composite membranes based on sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPAES) were prepared via addition of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and solution casting method. The morphological structure, water uptake, proton conductivity of the resulting composite membranes were extensively investigated as function of the content of TEOS. By the sol-gel reaction, TEOS molecules were not completely converted to $SiO_2$ particles, but formed only oligomer-type. Also, EDS confirms that the resulting silicon dioxide was homogeneously distributed in the composite membranes. As the content of TEOS increased, the prepared membranes increased water uptake and proton conductivity at high temperature and low relative humidity condition. In particular, considerably high proton conductivity (0.015 S/cm) at $120^{\circ}C$ and 48%RH was demonstrated in the composite membrane containing 200% TEOS, which is 10 times greater than that of unmodified SPAES membrane. Also, the composite membranes were found to have enhanced thermal stability compared to the unmodified membrane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.351-360
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• 2018

In this study, propylene/propane separation mechanism through NaY zeolite membrane was investigated. As permeation temperature increased, both propylene and propane permeances increased, saturated and decreased again, and a maximum selectivity was shown at around 50 to $60^{\circ}C$. Propane permeance in mixed gas experiment was much smaller than that in single gas experiment, and propylene/propane mixed gas selectivity was much larger than single gas permselectivity. As permeation time increased in transient permeation experiment, propylene permeance initially increased and saturated, while propane permeance decreased and saturated. All the experimental results announced that propylene/propane separation through NaY zeolite membrane was from preferentially adsorbed propylene molecules. The adsorbed propylene molecules efficiently prevented propane molecules from permeating through the membrane, and sufae diffused through the membrane. NaY zeolite capillary membrane prepared in the present study showed a high mixed gas selectivity of 12 and high propylene permeance of 497 GPU for a propylene/propane (89 : 11) mixture at $50^{\circ}C$ and 4 bar. Therefore, it was concluded that NaY zeolite membrane is one of promising membrane materials for propylene/propane separation due to the low cost and high separation performance.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.228-241
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• 2020

Separators, which produces physical layer between a cathode and anode, are getting enormous attention as the quality of the separator determines the performance of lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Porous membranes based on polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are generally utilized as the separator of LIBs because of their high electrochemical stability and suitable mechanical strength. However, low thermal resistance and wettability of PE and PP membranes limited the potential of LIBs. Operating at the temperature exceeding the melting point of membranes, the separators change their structures which lead to short circuit of LIBs. Low wettability of the separators corresponds to low ionic conductivity which increases the cell resistance. To overcome these weaknesses of PE and PP separators, different types of separator were prepared by co-electrospinning, applying coating layer, forming core shell around membrane, and papermaking method. The synthesized separator greatly enhanced the heat resistance and wettability of separator and mechanical properties like flexibility and tensile strength. In this review different type of polymer membrane used as separator in lithium ion battery are discussed.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2011

In this study, polymer composite membranes based on sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPAES) were prepared using a solution casting method with different amount of vermiculite (VMT) content. The dispersion of VMT particles in the SPAES matrix was confirmed by means of a scanning electron microscopy observation. The composite membrane containing less than 1 wt% of VMT has a smooth skin on the top and bottom, which means there is a good dispersion of VMT in the matrix. The water uptake of the composite membranes gradually increases as the temperature increases, and the results confirm that all the adsorbed water is bound water because VMT has a strong water affinity on account of its high cation exchange value. A composite membrane with a VMT content of less than 1 wt% increases the proton conductivity and reduces the methanol permeability. Of all the composite membranes, the membrane SPAES/VMT 1.0 has the best fuel cell performance in terms of membrane selectivity. The performance value of SPAES/VMT 1.0 is double that of Nafion 112, which suggests that SPAES/VMT1.0 could be an excellent candidate for direct methanol fuel cells.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2011

$BaCo_{0.7}Fe_{0.22}Nb_{0.08}O_{3-{\delta}}$ oxide was synthesized by solid state reaction method. Dense ceramic membrane was prepared using as-prepared powder by pressing and sintering at $1,200^{\circ}C$. XRD result of membrane showed single perovskite structure. Leakage and oxygen permeation test were conducted on the membrane sealed by glass ring as a sealing material. The oxygen permeation flux increased with increasing temperature and pressure difference and maximum oxygen permeation flux was $2.3mL/min{\cdot}cm^2$ at $950^{\circ}C$ with $Po_2$ = 0.63 atm of oxygen partial pressure. The oxygen permeation in the condition of air with $CO_2$ (300 ppm) as feed stream decreased as much as only maximum 2.9% in comparison with air feed stream. It indicated $BaCo_{0.7}Fe_{0.22}Nb_{0.08}O_{3-{\delta}}$ membrane is more stable than another membrane for carbon dioxide.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.182-190
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• 2003

Carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes were prepared by the pyrolysis of polyvinylpyrrolidone containing polyimide precursors. We have prepared the polymer precursors, pyrolyzed polymer and investigated the effect of pyrolyzing polymer on the characteristics of carbon structures and gas separation properties of the CMS membranes. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed the two-step decomposition of polymer precursor. First decomposition of the pyrolyzing polymer began around $400^{\circ}C$ while carbonizing polymer showed the decomposition around $550^{\circ}C$. The gas permeabilities through the CMS membranes were enhanced by the introduction of the pyrolyzing polymer and decreased with increased final pyrolysis temperature. The CMS membrane pyrolyzed at $550^{\circ}C$. derived from precursor containing 5wt% PVP as a pyrolyzing polymer showed gas permeability for $O_2$ of 808 Barrers [$10^{-10}cm^3 (STP)cm/cm^2scmHg]$ and $O_2/N_2$ selectivity of 7.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.406-414
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• 2015

In this study, partially fluorinated cation exchange membranes were prepared by direct sulfonation of Poly(VDF-co-hexafluoropropylene) copolymers (PVDF-co-HFP) followed by a casting method for application in the Membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI). The structure of sulfonated PVDF-co-HFP (SPVDF) was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and $^1H$ Nuclear magnetic resonance ($^1H$ NMR) analysis. For quantitative analysis of the chemical composition, the X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was used. The membrane properties such as water uptake, ion exchange capacity and electrical resistance were measured. It was suggested that the optimum direct sulfonation condition of PVDF-co-HFP ion exchange membranes was $60^{\circ}C$ and 7 hours for temperature and duration of sulfonation, respectively. The water uptake of the SPVDF ion exchange membrane was 21.5%. The ion exchange capacity and electrical resistance were 0.89 meq/g and $3.70{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$, respectively. It was investigated that if it is feasible to apply these membranes in MCDI at various cell potentials (0.9~1.5 V) and initial flow rates (10~40 mL/min). In the MCDI process, the maximum salt removal rate was 62.5% in repeated absorption-desorption cycles.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.292-303
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• 2022

An eco-friendly energy conversion device without the emission of pollutants has gained much attention due to the rapid use of fossil fuels inducing carbon dioxide emissions ever since the first industrial revolution in the 18th century. Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) that can produce water during the reaction without the emission of carbon dioxide are promising devices for automotive and residential applications. As a key component of PEMFCs, polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) need to have high proton conductivity and physicochemical stability during the operation. Currently, perfluorinated sulfonic acid-based PEMs (PFSA-PEMs) have been commercialized and utilized in PEMFC systems. Although the PFSA-PEMs are found to meet these criteria, there is an ongoing need to improve these further, to be useful in practical PEMFC operation. In addition, the well-known drawbacks of PFSA-PEMs including low glass transition temperature and high gas crossover need to be improved. Therefore, this review focused on recent trends in the development of high-performance PFSA-PEMs in three different ways. First, control of the side chain of PFSA copolymers can effectively improve the proton conductivity and thermal stability by increasing the ion exchange capacity and polymer crystallinity. Second, the development of composite-type PFSA-PEMs is an effective way to improve proton conductivity and physical stability by incorporating organic/inorganic additives. Finally, the incorporation of porous substrates is also a promising way to develop a thin pore-filling membrane showing low membrane resistance and outstanding durability.