Substantially Improving CO Permeability and CO/CH Selectivity of Matrimid Using Functionalized-TiCT.

Mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) with favorable interfacial interactions between dispersed and continuous phases offer a promising approach to overcome the traditional trade-off between permeability and selectivity in membrane-based gas separation. In this study, we developed free-standing MMMs by embedding pristine and surface-modified TiCT MXenes into Matrimid 5218 polymer for efficient CO/CH separation. Two-dimensional TiCT with adjustable surface terminations provided control over these critical interfacial interactions. Characterization (Raman spectroscopy, XPS, DSC, FTIR) indicated the formation of hydrogen bonds between the termination groups on TiCT and the carbonyl groups of Matrimid, promoting enhanced compatibility and dispersion of MXenes within the polymer matrix. The resulting MMMs with 5 wt % TiCT showed a 67% increase in CO permeability and an 84% enhancement in CO/CH selectivity compared to pristine Matrimid membranes. Surface modification of TiCT using [3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyl]trimethoxysilane (AEAPTMS) further enhanced compatibility, leading to MMMs with 140% higher CO permeability and 130% greater CO/CH selectivity. Molecular simulations suggested that AEAPTMS functionalization improved interfacial interactions with Matrimid chains, increasing the affinity of MXenes toward CO molecules. Additionally, the elongation of gas pathways, polymer chain disruption, and the presence of interlayer nanogalleries contributed positively to the enhanced separation performance. This work provides insights into tailoring nanomaterial-polymer interfaces to address the challenges of gas separation, paving the way for environmentally friendly CO separation technologies.