This work reports on the preparation and gas transport performance of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) based on the polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) and potassium dodecahydrododecaborate (K₂B12H12) as inorganic particles (IPs). The effect of IP loading on the gas separation performance of these MMMs was investigated by varying the IP content (2.5, 5, 10 and 20 wt %) in a PIM-1 polymer matrix. The derived MMMs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), single gas permeation tests and sorption measurement. The PIM1/K₂B12H12 MMMs show good dispersion of the IPs (from 2.5 to 10 wt %) in the polymer matrix. The gas permeability of PIM1/K₂B12H12 MMMs increases as the loading of IPs increases (up to 10 wt %) without sacrificing permselectivity. The sorption isotherm in PIM-1 and PIM1/K₂B12H12 MMMs demonstrate typical dual-mode sorption behaviors for the gases CO₂ and CH₄.
Keywords: borane; gas separation membrane; mixed matrix membranes; polymer of intrinsic microporosity.