• Membrane Journal
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 1997

Carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes were synthesized by the pyrolysis of polymeric precursors. The CMS materials had oxygen-nitrogen selectivities much higher than those observed for the polymeric precursors. Typically molecular sieving materials have diffusion selectivities much higher than polymeric materials. This has been identified as a result of higher entropic selectivity of the molecular sieving materials. A study of the development of molecular sieving properties as the polymeric precursor is pyrolyzed into a CMS material will offer us an insight into polymeric molecular structures needed for enhanced entropic selectivity membrane materials.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.565-574
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• 2007

In this study, five representative, commercially available polymers, Ultem 1000 polyetherimide, Kapton polyimide, phenolic resin, polyacrylonitrile and cellulose acetate, were used to prepare pyrolyzed polymer membranes coated on a porous {\alpha}-alumina$ tube via inert pyrolysis for gas separation. Pyrolysis conditions (i.e., final temperature and thermal dwell time) of each polymer were determined using a thermogravimetric method coupled with real-time mass spectroscopy. The surface area and pore size distribution of the pyrolyzed materials derived from the polymers were estimated from the nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. Pyrolyzed membranes from polymer precursors exhibited type I sorption behavior except cellulose acetate (type IV). The gas permeation of the carbon/{\alpha}-alumina$ tubular membranes was characterized using four gases: helium, carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen. The polyetherimide, polyimide, and phenolic resin pyrolyzed polymer membranes showed typical molecular sieving gas permeation behavior, while membranes from polyacrylonitrile and cellulose acetate exhibited intermediate behavior between Knudsen diffusion and molecular sieving. Pyrolyzed membranes with molecular sieving behavior (e.g., polyetherimide, polyimide, and phenolic resin) had a $CO_2/N_2$ selectivity of greater than 15; however, the membranes from polyacrylonitrile and cellulose acetate with intermediate gas transport behavior had a selectivity slightly greater than unity due to their large pore size.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.376-380
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• 2021

The accurate detection of hydrogen gas molecules is considered to be important for industrial safety. However, the selective detection of the gas using semiconductive metal oxides (SMOs)-based sensors is challenging. Here, we describe the fabrication of H₂ sensors in which a nanocellulose/graphene oxide (GO) hybrid membrane is attached to SnO₂ nanosheets (NSs). One-dimensional (1D) nanocellulose fibrils are attached to the surface of GO NSs (GONC membrane) by mixing GO and nanocellulose in a solution. The as-prepared GONC membrane is employed as a sacrificial template for SnO₂ NSs as well as a molecular sieving membrane for selective H₂ filtration. The combination of GONC membrane and SnO₂ NSs showed substantial selectivity to hydrogen gas (R_air / R_gas > 10 @ 0.8 % H₂, 100 ℃) with noise level responses to interfering gases (H₂S, CO, CH₃COCH₃, C₂H₅OH, and NO₂). These remarkable sensing results are attributed mainly to the molecular sieving effect of the GONC membrane. These results can facilitate the development of a highly selective H₂ detector using SMO sensors.

• Korean Membrane Journal
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2004

The silica containing carbon (C-SiO$_2$) membranes were fabricated using poly(imide siloxane) (PIS) having -CO- swivel group. The characteristics of porous C-SiO$_2$ structures prepared by the pyrolysis of poly(imide siloxane) were related with the micro-phase separation between the imide block and the siloxane block. Furthermore, the nitrogen adsorption isotherms of the CMS and the C-SiO$_2$ membranes were investigated to define the characteristics of porous structures. The C-SiO$_2$ membranes derived from PIS showed the type IV isotherm and possessed the hysteresis loop, which was associated with the mesoporous carbon structures, while the CMS membranes derived from PI showed the type I isotherm. For the molecular sieving probe, the C-SiO$_2$ membranes pyrolyzed at 550, 600, and 700$^{\circ}C$ showed the O$_2$ permeability of 924, 1076, and 367 Barrer (1 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-10/㎤(STP)cm/$\textrm{cm}^2$$.$s$.$cmHg) and O$_2$/N$_2$ selectivity of 9, 8, and 12.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.5-8
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• 1997

Introduction : Membranes made from inorganic materials are generally superior to organo-polymeric materials in thermal and mechanical stability, and chemical resistance. Among inorganic materials zeolite is a promising candidate for a high performance membrane because of the unique characteristics of zeolite crystals such as molecular sieving, ion exchange, selective adsorption and catalysis. Although there are many recent reportsl on the preparation of zeolitc membranes and the gas permeation through the membranes, only a limited number of publications deal with pervaporation studies. Recently, we have reported a high pervaporation performance of NaA zeolite membrane for the separation of water/organic liquid mixtures. and of NaY zeolite menlbrane for the separation of methanol/MTBE. Here, preparation of zeolite (LTA, ZSM-5 and FAU) membranes and their permeation properties are discussed.

• Carbon letters
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 2015

Gas transport through graphene-derived membranes has gained much interest recently due to its promising potential in filtration and separation applications. In this work, we explore Kr-85 gas radionuclide sequestration from natural air in nanoporous graphene oxide membranes in which different sizes and geometries of pores were modeled on the graphene oxide sheet. This was done using atomistic simulations considering mean-squared displacement, diffusion coefficient, number of crossed species of gases through nanoporous graphene oxide, and flow through interlayer galleries. The results showed that the gas features have the densest adsorbed zone in nanoporous graphene oxide, compared with a graphene membrane, and that graphene oxide was more favorable than graphene for Kr separation. The aim of this paper is to show that for the well-defined pore size called P-7, it is possible to separate Kr-85 from a gas mixture containing Kr-85, O₂ and N₂. The results would benefit the oil industry among others.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.171-182
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• 2014

Organic compounds are adsorbed on RO/NF membranes, and the adsorption may influence the rejection of organic compounds by the membranes. Because almost RO/NF membranes are composite membranes, the results obtained by adsorption experiment with using membrane pieces are unable to avoid the influence by the support membrane. In this work, the interaction between membrane polymer and organic solutes was examined by an inverse HPLC methodology. Poly (m-phenylenetrimesoylate), the constituent of skin layer of RO/NF membranes, was coated on silica gel particles and used as a stationary phase for HPLC. When water was used as a mobile phase, almost hydrophilic aliphatic compounds were not effectively adsorbed on the stationary phase, although hydrophobic compounds were slightly adsorbed. The results indicated that the hydrophilic aliphatic compounds are useful probe solutes to examine the molecular sieving effect of a membrane. When water was used as a mobile phase, the aromatic compounds were strongly retained, and therefore $CH_3CN/H_2O$ (30/70) was used as a mobile phase. It was revealed that the adsorption of aromatic compounds was controlled by stacking between solute and polymer and was hindered by non-planar structure and substituents.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.129-132
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• 2003

Silica/SUS composite membranes were prepared for CO removal from products of methanol steam reforming. A support was prepared by coating Ni powder of sub-micron and SiO$_2$ sols of particle size of 500nm and 150nm in turns on a porous stainless steel (SUS) substrate. Silica top layer was coated on the modified support using colloidal sol with nanoparticle. As a result of mixture gas permeation test of silica composite membrane using H$_2$(99%)/CO(1%), CO concentration of 10000 ppm was reduced to under 81 ppm, which is acceptable in PEMFC anode gas specification. Permeation mechanism through the membrane was mainly molecular sieving.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.340-346
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• 2014

Continuous and dense ZIF-7 membranes were successfully synthesized on ${\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ porous substrate via two-step crystallization technique. ZIF-7 seeding layer was first deposited on porous ${\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ substrate by in-situ low temperature crystallization, and then ZIF-7 membrane layer can be grown through the secondary high-temperature crystallization. Two synthesis solutions with different concentration were used to prepare ZIF-7 seeding layer and membrane layer on porous ${\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ substrate, respectively. As a result, a continuous and defect-free ZIF-7 membrane layer can be prepared on porous ${\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ substrate, as confirmed by scanning electron microscope. XRD characterization shows that the resulting membrane layer is composed of pure ZIF-7 phase without any impurity. A single gas permeation test of $H_2$, $O_2$, $CH_4$ or $CO_2$ was conducted based on our prepared ZIF-7 membrane. The ZIF-7 membrane exhibited excellent H2 molecular sieving properties due to its suitable pore aperture and defect-free membrane layer.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2022

Direct exposure to toxic and hazardous gases has always been considered as the most pervasive problem worldwide, leading to a gradual increase in the number of asthma patients due to NO_x/SO_x gases inhaling and exposure to 50 ppm formaldehyde gases. Therefore, the development of accurate gas sensors is a key issue for resolving these problems. To address such issues, the development of membranes for selective filtering of target molecules as well as nanocatalyst for enhancing the sensing selectivity is highly crucial. In this review, the research progress for porous membrane materials (e.g. MOFs, and graphene) and nanocatalyst technology for the development of selective and accurate gas sensors will be discussed.