Non-technical Abstract: This project focuses on the development of fundamental science enabling fabrication of porous membranes for N2/CO2 separation with high selectivity and significant fluxes. High selectivity is achieved by inducing different molecular transport mechanisms for different components in a gas mixture. This research has a transformative impact because no microporous membranes have been demonstrated so far where selectivity is achieved by inducing different transport mechanisms for different components inside a membrane. The gas transport mechanisms on microscopic length scales will be monitored by a unique nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique. The separation approach developed in this project can be easily adapted for other industrially important gas separations using the same membrane.
The objective of this project is to develop structure-property relationships that will enable the fabrication of microporous membranes for N2/CO2 separation with high selectivity, which are achieved by selective induction of single-file diffusion to N2 molecules. The research effort is split between the following tasks: (1) fabrication of membrane supports with nanopore diameters below 5 nm and (2) characterization of the diffusion properties of gas mixtures in these membranes. Application of a unique diffusion NMR technique enables distinguishing between different diffusion mechanisms for different gas components inside the membrane on the microscopic length scales. Successful completion of the proposed research affords a transformative membrane-based technology to separate CO2 from combustion gas mixtures. The research plan is integrated with a recruitment program and supervised research for undergraduate students, especially students from the underrepresented groups, as well as mentoring and outreach. The students will be trained to use a unique diffusion NMR technique at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
