Gas Separation Membranes with Metal Oxide Protective Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas separation membranes (GSMs) face a trade-off between having a protective layer to prevent mechanical damage and maintaining good gas permeance, as polysiloxane-based protective layers significantly reduce gas permeance.
Innovation Solution
The GSMs are designed with a further layer comprising 1.5 to 10 atomic % of M groups of Formula (1) and a discriminating layer with over 10 atomic % of M groups of Formula (1), where M is a metal or metalloid atom, to enhance mechanical protection while maintaining high gas permeance and selectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a polysiloxane-based protective layer is applied to protect the discriminating layer from mechanical damage, then the mechanical protection is improved, but the gas permeance is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining the polysiloxane protective layer with metal oxide particles (such as silica, alumina, or zirconia) to create a multi-component protective layer. This composite structure maintains the mechanical protection benefits of the polysiloxane matrix while the inorganic particles provide pathways for gas permeation, thereby resolving the contradiction between mechanical strength and gas permeance
Solution Approach 2:
The protective layer is designed with a porous structure containing metal oxide particles that create channels for gas transport. The porosity and particle distribution are controlled to allow sufficient gas permeance while maintaining the mechanical integrity and protective function of the layer
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a protective layer is added to prevent mechanical damage during handling and use, then the durability is improved, but the selectivity and gas permeance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By incorporating metal oxide particles into the polysiloxane matrix, the protective layer achieves enhanced durability through the composite structure. The inorganic particles reinforce the matrix and provide stable gas transport pathways, maintaining both durability and gas permeance performance over time
3Strength
If a thicker protective layer is used to provide better mechanical strength, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the gas permeance is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protective layer utilizes a porous structure with metal oxide particles that create interconnected channels for gas transport. This porous architecture allows the layer to provide mechanical strength and protection while simultaneously maintaining high gas permeance, eliminating the need for excessive thickness
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves a balance between mechanical protection and gas permeance, with selectivity ratios of carbon dioxide to methane permeability coefficients exceeding 10, outperforming membranes without the further layer.
Implementation Method 1
a protective layer included on top of the discriminating layer in order to protect the discriminating layer from mechanical damage
Implementation Method 2
the discriminating layer to distinguish between the gases to be separated
Data Source
AI summary
A gas separation membrane comprising the following layers: (i) optionally a support layer; (ii) a discriminating layer; (iii) a further layer; and (iv) optionally a protective layer; wherein (a) the further layer (iii) and the discriminating layer (ii) each independently comprise groups of Formula (1): M-(O—)x wherein: each M independently is a metal or metalloid atom; O is an oxygen atom; and each x independently has a value of at least 4; (b) the further layer (iii) comprises 1.5 to 10 atomic % of M of Formula (1) groups, wherein M is as hereinbefore defined; and (c) the discriminating layer (ii) comprises more than 10 atomic % of M of Formula (1) groups, wherein M is as hereinbefore defined.