TY - JOUR

T1 - Structure and transport properties of mixed-matrix membranes based on polyimides with ZrO2 nanostars

AU - Sokolova, Maria P.

AU - Smirnov, Michael A.

AU - Geydt, Pavel

AU - Bugrov, Alexander N.

AU - Ovaska, Sami Seppo

AU - Lahderanta, Erkki

AU - Toikka, Alexander M.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (grant 16-13-10164): Maria Sokolova and Alexander Toikka acknowledge RSF for the support in the synthesis of membranes and studies of their physical-chemical and transport properties. Maria Sokolova also acknowledges St. Petersburg State University for the postdoctoral fellowship (grant 12.50.1195.2014). Alexander Bugrov is also grateful to St. Petersburg State University for the postdoctoral fellowship, grant 12.50.23.2014 (synthesis of ZrO Publisher Copyright: © 2016 by the authors.

PY - 2016/11/18

Y1 - 2016/11/18

N2 - Mixed-matrix membranes based on amorphous and semi-crystalline polyimides with zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) nanostars were synthesized. Amorphous poly(4,4'-oxydiphenylenepyromellitimide) and semi-crystalline polyimide prepared from 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene and 4,4'-oxydiphthalic anhydride were used. The effect of ZrO2 nanostars on the structure and morphology of nanocomposite membranes was studied by wide-angle X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and contact angle measurements. Thermal properties and stability were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Transport properties of hybrid membranes containing 5 wt % ZrO2 were tested for pervaporation of a mixture of butanol-water with 10 wt % H2O content. It was found that a significant amount of the ZrO2 added to the semi-crystalline polyimide is encapsulated inside spherulites. Therefore, the beneficial influence of inorganic filler on the selectivity of mixed-matrix membrane with respect to water was hampered. Mixed-matrix membranes based on amorphous polymer demonstrated the best performance, because water molecules had higher access to inorganic particles.

AB - Mixed-matrix membranes based on amorphous and semi-crystalline polyimides with zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) nanostars were synthesized. Amorphous poly(4,4'-oxydiphenylenepyromellitimide) and semi-crystalline polyimide prepared from 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene and 4,4'-oxydiphthalic anhydride were used. The effect of ZrO2 nanostars on the structure and morphology of nanocomposite membranes was studied by wide-angle X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and contact angle measurements. Thermal properties and stability were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Transport properties of hybrid membranes containing 5 wt % ZrO2 were tested for pervaporation of a mixture of butanol-water with 10 wt % H2O content. It was found that a significant amount of the ZrO2 added to the semi-crystalline polyimide is encapsulated inside spherulites. Therefore, the beneficial influence of inorganic filler on the selectivity of mixed-matrix membrane with respect to water was hampered. Mixed-matrix membranes based on amorphous polymer demonstrated the best performance, because water molecules had higher access to inorganic particles.

KW - Mixed matrix membrane

KW - Pervaporation

KW - Polyimide

KW - Polymer structure

KW - Quantitative nanomechanical mapping

KW - Zirconia

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84999693665&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=27579259

U2 - 10.3390/polym8110403

DO - 10.3390/polym8110403

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84999693665

VL - 8

JO - Polymers

JF - Polymers

SN - 2073-4360

IS - 11

M1 - 403

ER -