Poly(methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic amide)-polyethylene glycol/polycarbonate and graphene nanoribbon-based nanocomposite membrane for gas separation

High-performance gas separation membranes were fabricated using 0.5–3wt.% graphene nanoribbon (GNR). Poly(methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic amide)-polyethylene glycol (PMMA-co-MA-PEG) copolymer was prepared via condensation and blended with polycarbonate to form PMMA-co-MA-PEG/PC. The PMMA-co-MA-PEG/PC and GNR-based nanocomposite possess seamless micro-branched morphological pattern. Tensile strength and Young’s Modulus of PMMA-co-MA-PEG/PC/GNR0.5-3 increased from 64.3–74.7MPa and 76.7–99.9MPa, respectively. GNR loading increased the permselectivity αCO₂/N₂ (25.4–41.6) of nanocomposite membrane relative to blend membrane (20.1). However, permeability P_CO2 was decreased from 163.9 to 139.7 Barrer than blend (174.3 Barrer). PMMA-co-MA-PEG/PC/GNR revealed 51.6% increase and 24.7% decrease in permselectivity and permeability owing to molecular sieving and barricade characteristics of graphene nanoribbon.