• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.1313-1318
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• 2006

The mechanism fur the surface film formation was studied by in situ Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) observation of a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) basal plane surface during cyclic voltammetry at a slow scan-rate of 0.5 mV $s^{-1}$ in 1 moi $dm^{-3}$ (M) $LiPF_6$ dissolved in a mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC). Decomposition of the electrolyte solution began at a potential around 2.15 V vs. $Li^+$/Li on step edges. In the potential range 0.95-0.8 V vs. $Li^+$/Li, flat areas (hill-like structures) and large swelling appeared on the surface. It is considered that these two features were formed by the intercalation of solvated lithium ions and their decomposition beneath the surface, respectively. At potentials more negative than 0.80 V vs. $Li^+$/Li, particle-like precipitates appeared on the basal plane surface. After the first cycle, the thickness of the precipitate layer was 30 nm. The precipitates were considered to be decomposition of the lithium salt ($LiPF_6$) and solvent molecules (EC and DEC), and to have an important role in suppressing further solvent decomposition on the basal plane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.94-109
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• 2023

1,3-Dioxolane is an exciting material that has attracted widespread interest in the chemical, paint, and pharmaceutical industries as a solvent, electrolyte, and reagent because 1,3-dioxolane is not toxic, carcinogenic, explosive, auto-flammable, and multifunctional, and due to their excellent miscibility in most organic and aqueous solvent conditions. Recently, this material has received increasing attention as a CO₂-selective polymer precursor to separating CO₂ from flue gas and natural gas mixtures. Poly(1,3-dioxolane) (PDXL) possesses higher ether oxygen content than polyethylene oxide (PEO), which demonstrates superior membrane CO₂/N₂ separation properties owing to their polar ether oxygen groups exhibiting strong affinity toward CO₂. Thus, PDXL-based membranes displayed an outstanding CO₂ solubility selectivity over non-polar (N₂, H₂, and CH₄) gases. However, the polar groups of PDXL, like PEO, promote chain packing efficiency and cause polymer crystallization, thereby reducing its gas permeability, which should be improved. In this short review, we discuss the recent advancement and limitations of PDXL membranes in gas separation applications. To conclude, we provide future perspectives for inhibiting the limits of 1,3-dioxolane-based polymers in the CO₂ separation process.