Three-in-one polyimide-based blended membrane for Upgrading helium separation performance and physical aging resistance

Bingbing Gao; Yiran Peng; Ming Wu; Hua Ma; Jianchao Sun; Peng Zhang; Xingzhong Cao; Like Ouyang; Xiaobin Fu; Chunfang Zhang; Yunxiang Bai; Lijun Liang; Yang Liu; Liangliang Dong

doi:10.1016/j.advmem.2025.100139

Advanced Membranes (Jan 2025)

Three-in-one polyimide-based blended membrane for Upgrading helium separation performance and physical aging resistance

Bingbing Gao,
Yiran Peng,
Ming Wu,
Hua Ma,
Jianchao Sun,
Peng Zhang,
Xingzhong Cao,
Like Ouyang,
Xiaobin Fu,
Chunfang Zhang,
Yunxiang Bai,
Lijun Liang,
Yang Liu,
Liangliang Dong

Affiliations

Bingbing Gao: Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, 214122, PR China
Yiran Peng: College of Automation, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, PR China
Ming Wu: College of Automation, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, PR China
Hua Ma: Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, 214122, PR China
Jianchao Sun: Department of Molten Salt Chemistry and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, PR China
Peng Zhang: Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
Xingzhong Cao: Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
Like Ouyang: Low-carbon Technology & Chemical Reaction Engineering Lab, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, PR China
Xiaobin Fu: Department of Molten Salt Chemistry and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, PR China
Chunfang Zhang: Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, 214122, PR China
Yunxiang Bai: Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, 214122, PR China
Lijun Liang: College of Automation, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, PR China; Corresponding author.
Yang Liu: Key Laboratory of Bio-based Materials Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Material Science and Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, PR China; Corresponding author.
Liangliang Dong: Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; Corresponding author.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advmem.2025.100139
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 5
p. 100139

Abstract

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Polyimide membranes have attracted considerable attention for gas separation applications; however, achieving efficient helium (He) separation remains a significant challenge due to the low fractional free volume (FFV) and poorly controlled pore size distribution. Here, we report a novel three-in-one polyimide-based blended membrane constructed from a polymer (6FDA-TFMB) and alkynyl-based polyimide (EBPA-TB) matrix via thermal crosslinking. By carefully designing membrane synthesis and structure, the resulting membrane achieves the “1 + 1>2” effect: (i) high He selectivity derived from reinforced interphase adhesion and size-sieving ability due to the hydrogen bonding and similar structure between 6FDA-TFMB and EBPA-TB; (ii) high He permeability derived from the rigid cross-linked network distorting the EBPA-TB chain packing and generating additional free volume; (iii) high anti-aging performance derived from the thermal crosslinking preventing microstructural rearrangements. The optimal membrane an unprecedented combination of high He permeability (51.24 Barrer), excellent He/N2 selectivity (146.40) and remarkable aging resistance (less than 3.97 % of permeability decrease over 50 days), outperforming the performance of state-of-the-art polyimide-based blended membranes for He purification. This three-in-one blended membrane construction strategy provides a general toolbox for the development of next-generation, high-performance blended membranes with desirable performance for diverse industrial applications.

Published in Advanced Membranes

ISSN: 2772-8234 (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co. Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology: Chemical engineering
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/advanced-membranes/

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