Nanometric thin film membranes manufactured on square meter scale: ultra-thin films for CO₂capture

TLDR

Miniaturization at the nanometer scale and the fabrication of defect‑free ultra‑thin polymer films on a square‑meter scale with uniform thickness below 100 nm are key challenges in nanoscience and membrane technology. The study aims to develop and manufacture defect‑free ultra‑thin film membranes with unprecedented CO₂ permeance. This was achieved by using a tailor‑made polymer and precisely controlling nanofabrication conditions. The membranes exhibit CO₂ permeances exceeding 5 m³ (STP) m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹, owing to their CO₂‑philic polymer composition and nanometer thickness, and show promise for low‑pressure CO₂ separation from flue gas.

Abstract

Miniaturization and manipulation of materials at nanometer scale are key challenges in nanoscience and nanotechnology. In membrane science and technology, the fabrication of ultra-thin polymer films (defect-free) on square meter scale with uniform thickness (<100 nm) is crucial. By using a tailor-made polymer and by controlling the nanofabrication conditions, we developed and manufactured defect-free ultra-thin film membranes with unmatched carbon dioxide permeances, i.e. > 5 m3 (STP) m − 2 h − 1 bar − 1. The permeances are extremely high, because the membranes are made from a CO2 philic polymer material and they are only a few tens of nanometers thin. Thus, these thin film membranes have potential application in the treatment of large gas streams under low pressure like, e.g., carbon dioxide separation from flue gas.