Hypercrosslinked Polymer for High-Pressure Gas Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current materials for high-pressure gas storage, such as zeolites and metal organic frameworks, are limited by sensitivity to water contamination, low effective uptake at high pressures, and insufficient gas storage capacity, particularly for compressed natural gas (CNG) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
Innovation Solution
Development of high-surface-area porous materials with a cross-linked polymeric framework, comprising aromatic ring-containing monomers linked by covalent bonds, which form a hypercross-linked structure for enhanced gas sorption capacity at high pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and porous coordination polymers (PCPs) are used for gas storage, then gas uptake is improved at low pressures, but the materials become sensitive to water contamination and degrade over time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the metal components from the framework structure, transitioning from metal-organic frameworks to purely organic hypercrosslinked polymers. This removal of metal sites eliminates the water sensitivity issue while maintaining the porous structure for gas storage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs robust organic linkers and crosslinking mechanisms that create stable, water-resistant frameworks. The material design prioritizes durability and resistance to environmental degradation over reversible metal-ligand interactions
2Quantity of substance
If conventional porous materials are used for gas storage, then storage capacity is improved at low to moderate pressures, but effective uptake becomes insufficient at high pressures required for CNG applications
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the porous material by introducing hypercrosslinking with high surface area and optimized pore size distribution. The material achieves 2000-5000 m²/g surface area and maintains pore volumes of 0.5-2.0 cm³/g, enabling effective gas uptake at high pressures up to 200-300 bar
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite-like structures through hypercrosslinked networks combining rigid aromatic monomers with flexible crosslinking agents. This composite approach at the molecular level generates materials with both mechanical stability and high porosity for enhanced high-pressure gas storage
3Quantity of substance
If gas is stored at high pressures for CNG applications, then storage density is improved, but the volume and mass of containment systems increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes hypercrosslinked porous polymers with extremely high surface areas (2000-5000 m²/g) and optimized pore volumes (0.5-2.0 cm³/g). These porous structures provide extensive gas adsorption capacity within compact volumes, achieving high storage densities without proportionally increasing containment system size
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the pore size distribution, surface area, and crosslinking density parameters of the material, the invention optimizes the balance between storage capacity and volume. The material achieves maximum gas uptake at high pressures while maintaining a compact form factor suitable for mobile applications
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 materials achieve improved gas uptake and storage efficiency at high pressures, allowing for increased gas storage capacity in a given volume, reducing the need for material in containment systems and enabling more efficient CNG and CO2 transportation.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of pores for gas sorption
Data Source
AI summary
A method of storing gas comprises providing a recipient for receiving the gas and providing a porous gas storage material. The gas storage material comprises a cross-linked polymeric framework and a plurality of pores for gas sorption. The cross-linked polymeric framework comprises aromatic ring-containing monomeric units comprising at least two aromatic rings. The aromatic ring-containing monomeric units are linked by covalent cross-linking between aromatic rings to form a stable, rigid nanoporous material for storing the gas at pressures significantly greater than the atmospheric pressure, for example in excess of 100 bar. A possible application is the storage and transportation of compressed natural gas.