A polymer separation membrane has been developed that selectively allows carbon dioxide to pass through with simple heat treatment. It is expected to dramatically reduce the expense of carbon dioxide capture in the future.
The National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) announced on the 25th that a research team led by Professor Lee Jong-seok of Sogang University has developed an externally derived microporous polymer separation membrane that simultaneously secures high carbon dioxide separation performance and excellent long-term stability. The externally derived microporous polymer separation membrane is created by rearranging and consolidating polymer chains through an external process to artificially form stable micropores.
Separation membrane technology is a method that selectively allows specific substances to pass through, enabling the separation of mixtures, and can dramatically reduce energy consumption compared to existing thermal-based separation processes. In carbon dioxide capture, a method is used that selectively allows only carbon dioxide to pass through the membrane for separation.
However, existing commercial polymer separation membranes faced a 'trade-off' problem where an increase in permeability resulted in a decrease in selectivity, and an increase in selectivity led to a decrease in permeability.
Thus, the research team proposed a new concept of an externally derived microporous polymer separation membrane that addresses persistent limitations with simple heat treatment. Furthermore, they succeeded in producing it in the form of hollow fiber membranes, enhancing the potential for large-scale production and industrial application.
When aromatic polymers containing fluorine are subjected to heat treatment, a selective defluorination phenomenon occurs, during which fluorine atoms detach from the polymer chains and highly reactive radicals are generated in their place. Radicals refer to atoms or molecules with unpaired electrons. The generated radicals form new bonds with adjacent polymer chains, creating a robust and permanent three-dimensional network structure. Thanks to the micropores formed in this way, the membrane has achieved both high carbon dioxide separation performance and excellent long-term stability.
The research team plans to apply the externally derived microporous structure formation mechanism identified in this study to various polymer structures and expand the technology into critical areas for addressing climate change and energy transition, including next-generation eco-friendly separation processes in petrochemical industries and hydrogen production, as well as batteries and catalysts.
The results of this study were published online in the international journal 'Nature Communications' on the 4th.
References
Nature Communications (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62372-y