(213f) Nano-Composite Membranes Achieved by in-Situ Approach for Hydrogen Economy

The separation of H2 with CO2 is the key issue for utilizing the hydrogen produced from steam-reforming and following water gas shift reaction. Considering the lower power costs, energy efficient, simplicity, and compactness, membrane is the better strategy than conventional approaches for hydrogen purification. In this study, the cross-linked organic-inorganic nanocomposite membranes are fabricated by the in-situ approach, which containing poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and silica. The PEO is from functional oligomers (o,o'-bis(2-aminopropyl) polypropylene glycol-block-polyethylene glycol-block-polypropylene glycol: Jeffamine® ED-2003) and silica is from epoxy-functional silanes (3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane: GOTMS). The physicochemical properties of hybrid membranes are investigated in details by Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis and nano-indention tests. CO2 and H2 transport properties are characterized by a home-made permeation cell for evaluating the hydrogen purification effect of organic-inorganic nanocoposite membranes. The temperature and pressure dependence of gas transport properties of nanocomposite membrane are investigated in details. The results illustrate that the in-situ fabricated nanocomposite membranes based on PEO and silica are promising for hydrogen economy.