Ultrathin graphene oxide-based hollow fiber membranes with brush-like CO(2)-philic agent for highly efficient CO(2) capture

Among the current CO(2) capture technologies, membrane gas separation has many inherent advantages over other conventional techniques. However, fabricating gas separation membranes with both high CO(2) permeance and high CO(2)/N(2) selectivity, especially under wet conditions, is a challenge. In this study, sub-20-nm thick, layered graphene oxide (GO)-based hollow fiber membranes with grafted, brush-like CO(2)-philic agent alternating between GO layers are prepared by a facile coating process for highly efficient CO(2)/N(2) separation under wet conditions. Piperazine, as an effective CO(2)-philic agent, is introduced as a carrier-brush into the GO nanochannels with chemical bonding. The membrane exhibits excellent separation performance under simulated flue gas conditions with CO(2) permeance of 1,020 GPU and CO(2)/N(2) selectivity as high as 680, demonstrating its potential for CO(2) capture from flue gas. We expect this GO-based membrane structure combined with the facile coating process to facilitate the development of ultrathin GO-based membranes for CO(2) capture.