| Dec 15, 2025 |
Researchers developed a highly selective membrane that efficiently separates carbon dioxide from other gases, supporting cleaner energy and industrial processes.
(Nanowerk News) Reducing carbon dioxide emissions remains a key challenge in addressing climate change, particularly for energy-intensive industries. Sectors such as power generation and natural gas processing require efficient technologies to separate carbon dioxide from gas streams that typically contain nitrogen or methane.
|
|
Membrane‑based gas separation is highly attractive because it consumes less energy than traditional methods, yet its performance strongly depends on optimizing the membrane structure and material quality.
|
|
A research team has developed a membrane based on a porous crystalline material known as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). The material, called CAU-23, contains one-dimensional channels that selectively allow small gas molecules to pass through while restricting larger ones.
|
|
By carefully controlling how the membrane crystals grow, the researchers were able to create a dense and uniform membrane with very few microscopic defects. The study is published in Small, (“Critical Role in Structural Optimization and Activation of CAU-23 Membranes for CO2 Separation”).
|
 |
| Schematic illustration of membrane optimization enabling efficient carbon dioxide separation. (Image: NTU)
|
|
In addition to membrane structure, the researchers found that the activation process plays a critical role. Newly synthesized membranes often contain residual molecules trapped inside the pores, which block gas transport and limit efficiency. The team compared heat treatment with a solvent‑based activation method using methanol.
|
|
They discovered that methanol activation was far more effective at removing these pore‑blocking species, thereby restoring the membrane’s internal pathways and dramatically improving gas flow.
|
|
Under tested conditions, the optimized CAU-23 membrane showed high selectivity in separating carbon dioxide from nitrogen and methane, including in mixed-gas systems. This performance highlights its potential relevance for carbon capture and gas separation applications.
|
|
“This study highlights how membrane design and treatment can strongly influence gas separation performance,” says Dun-Yen Kang, professor of chemical engineering at National Taiwan University and co-corresponding author of the study.
|
