The influence of pyrocarbon modification on the physicochemical characteristics of the surface of pores and transport properties of inorganic membranes

The structure of pyrocarbon crystallites deposited on the surface of the pore channels of TRUMEM composite inorganic membranes (TiO₂ on porous steel) was studied by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. According to the X-ray data, the lattice of pyrocarbon crystallites of size L _c=40.0 nm has hexagonal symmetry with d ₀₀₂=3.368 Å. The deposition of pyrocarbon crystallites with L _c up to 1.5 nm was identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Coating the pore channels of membranes with pyrocarbon decreased the density of the electric charge on their surface by a factor of ～5.5. The temperature dependences of the hydrodynamic permeability coefficient were obtained for the initial and pyrocarbon-modified membranes when polar and nonpolar fluids flowed through them. The electrostatic force and energy of the interaction of ethanol molecules with each other and the surface of pores were calculated; the results were compared with the O-H···O H-bond energy. The main reason for the formation of alcohol adsorption layers was the formation of H-bonds between its molecules and O-H···O atoms on the surface of pores.