Mixed-Matrix Membranes Integrating Metal-Organic Frameworks: Thermo-Mechanical Properties and Engineering Performance

含有纳米结构填料的聚合物复合膜在工业领域有许多潜在的应用。例如，在从二氧化碳捕获和封存到氢气纯化的新兴技术中，以及用于水脱盐和蒸汽回收系统，以及用于医疗设备和智能传感器。下一代混合基质膜（MMM）结合了多孔金属有机框架（MOF），提供了将MOF的高选择性和化学调谐与传统聚合物固有的易加工性和鲁棒性相结合的独特机会。虽然这种M0 F-聚合物混合基质膜的开发尚处于起步阶段，但最近已经发现了原型复合系统，其在功能性能（特别是气体/液体渗透性和选择性性质）方面表现出实质性的改善。在这一迅速发展的领域已经取得了很大进展。然而，许多重要的问题仍然有待回答，其核心的机械热性能和长期的化学稳定性，其结构功能的机械相关信息是稀缺的，迄今膜结构完整性（静态或动态负载下）没有得到很好的理解。该项目将解决上述问题，建立基础物理特性的准确知识，并精确定位控制新型膜的结构和功能性能的微观机制。这项研究将产生系统的结构-功能关系，制定创新的方法和详细的材料模型描述，这将使新膜的预测，合理设计和工程。弹性复合膜具有改进的损伤容限和最佳的功能，将使许多能源、环境和多功能技术受益于更广泛的公众。

Polymer composite membranes containing nanostructured fillers have many potential applications in industrial sectors. For example, in emergent technologies ranging from carbon dioxide capture and sequestration to hydrogen purification, and for use in water desalination and vapor recovery systems, as well as in medical devices and smart sensors. Next-generation mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) which incorporate porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), offer the unique opportunity for combining high selectivity and chemical tuneability of MOFs with the ease of processing and robustness intrinsic to conventional polymers. While the development of such MOF-polymer mixed-matrix membranes is in its infancy, there are already archetypal composite systems recently discovered that demonstrate substantial improvement in its functional performance (particularly gas/liquid permeability and selectivity properties). Much progress has been accomplished in this rapidly growing area. However, many important questions remain to be answered about its core mechanical-thermal properties and long-term chemical stability; its structure-function mechanical correlation information is scarce and, hitherto membrane structural integrity (under static or dynamic loading) is not well understood. This project will address the aforementioned problems, establishing an accurate knowledge of the underpinning physical properties, and pinpointing microscopic mechanisms that control the structural and functional performance of novel membranes. This research will yield systematic structure-function relationships, formulate innovative methodologies and detailed material model descriptions, which will enable prediction, rational design and engineering of new membranes. Resilient composite membranes featuring an improved damage tolerance coupled with optimal functionalities will enable many energy, environmental and multifunctional technologies benefitting the wider public.