PAMAM dendrimer containing polymeric membrane for preferential CO2 separation over H2 - Interplay between CO2 separation properties and morphology

Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer is entrapped in a poly(ethylene glycol) network by photo-polymerization of PEG dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) in the presence of the dendrimer. The resulting polymeric membrane displays excellent CO2 separation properties over H-2. The dendrimer content, generation of the dendrimer, and relative humidity are crucial factors to characterize CO2 separation performance of the dendrimer containing polymeric membrane. Especially, the UV curing of immiscible pair of the dendrimer and PEG results in the formation of a bicontinuous structure upon macrophase separation in a coupe of microns scale. The phase-separated structure also determines preferential CO2 permeation. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of GHGT