g-C3N4 with tunable affinity and sieving effect endowing polymeric
membranes with enhanced CO2 capture property
Abstract
g-C3N4 nanosheets with tunable CO2 adsorption properties and
nanostructures were synthesized and incorporated into polyether block
amide (Pebax) membrane for CO2 separation. The g-C3N4 nanosheets with
variable adsorption properties were produced from two monomers,
dicyandiamide and melamine, and the variation of nanostructures was
controlled by thermal oxidation etching process. The effects of
CO2-philic and molecular sieving properties of g-C3N4 nanosheets on
solubility and diffusivity of gas molecules in the as-prepared membranes
were systematically investigated. The results demonstrated that the
g-C3N4 nanosheets produced from dicyandiamide and undergoing 4 h thermal
etching (DCN-4 nanosheets) showed the optimal CO2 sorption and sieving
property. The membrane with 0.25 wt% DCN-4 nanosheets exhibited
simultaneous enhancement in CO2 permeance and CO2/N2 selectivity
compared with pure Pebax membrane. Moreover, the membrane maintained its
separation performance during long-term operation test, showing great
potential for CO2 capture.