UNS:Collaborative research: Resolving changes in microscopic properties as a result of hybrid polymer-ZIF membrane formation to enable rational design of such membranes

在美国，大约15%的国内能源消耗在分离过程中。将先进的分子筛材料颗粒嵌入到聚合物薄膜中构成的复合膜分离器是一种很有前途的膜，它有可能对分离过程的能效产生有意义的影响。提出的研究将建立实验框架，以解决这种复合膜的微观运输，吸附和结构特性，并找到这些特性与分离应用相关的相应宏观特性之间的关系。对复合膜微观性质的基本认识将为合理设计优化气体分离和渗透蒸发的复合膜奠定基础。沸石咪唑酸盐框架（ZIFs）是一类具有类似沸石结构的金属有机框架（mof），可以嵌入到玻璃状聚合物基体中形成混合基质膜（MMM）。这样的膜捕获了ZIF的分子筛分特性和易于处理的聚合物。这项工作的主要目标是对MMM组分与相应的整齐材料的输运、吸附和结构性质之间的关系有一个基本的了解。pi建议使用基于几种最先进甚至独特的核磁共振和吸附表征技术应用的协同策略来实现这种分辨率。所提出的工作的潜在变革结果是，基于对与整齐材料相比，MMM成分的传输、吸附和结构性质变化的理解，能够设计出zif -聚合物MMM。教育和推广项目计划的主要重点是为来自代表性不足群体的K-12和本科生建立一个新的校际研究指导计划。该项目将为学生提供参与明确定义的工程项目，开发与膜分离相关的引人入胜的动画和教育演示，向年轻学生展示这些动画和演示，并参与佛罗里达大学和佐治亚理工学院团队之间的学生交流。

1510442/1510411Lively/VasenkovApproximately 15% of domestic energy in the United States is consumed in separation processes. Composite membrane separators comprised of particles of advanced molecular sieve material embedded into a polymer film are a promising class of membranes with the potential to make meaningful impact on the energy efficiency of separation processes. The proposed research will establish experimental framework that allows resolving microscopic transport, sorption and structural properties of such composite membranes and finding relationships between these properties and the corresponding macroscopic properties relevant for applications in separations. The fundamental understanding of the microscopic properties of the composite membranes will lay the foundation for rationally designed composite membranes optimized for gas separations and pervaporation. Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), a class of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that have zeolite-like structures, can be embedded into a glassy polymer matrix to form a mixed matrix membrane (MMM). Such membranes capture both the molecular sieving properties of the ZIF and the ease of processing associated with polymers. The main goal of this work is to develop a fundamental understanding of the relationship between the transport, sorption and structural properties of the MMM constituents and those of the corresponding neat materials. The PIs propose to use a synergetic strategy based on the application of several state-of-the-art and even unique NMR and sorption characterization techniques to achieve such resolution. The potentially transformative outcome of the proposed work is to enable the design of ZIF-polymer MMMs based on the understanding of changes of the transport, sorption and structural properties of the MMM constituents in comparison to those of the neat materials. The primary focus of the educational and outreach project plan is to establish a new inter-campus research mentoring program for K-12 and undergraduate students from underrepresented groups. This program will offer students participation in well-defined engineering projects, development of engaging animations and educational demonstrations related to membrane separations, presentation of these animations and demonstrations to younger students and participation in a student exchange between the UF and Georgia Tech groups.