There is a need for gas separation membranes that can perform at high temperatures, for example, for CO2 capture in industrial processes. Polyphosphazenes classify as interesting materials for use under these conditions because of their high thermal stability, hybrid nature, and postfunctionalization options. In this work, thin-film composite cyclomatrix polyphosphazene membranes are prepared via the interfacial polymerization reaction between polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane and hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene on top of a ceramic support. The prepared polyphosphazene networks are highly crosslinked and show excellent thermal stability until 340 °C. Single gas permeation experiments at temperatures ranging from 50 to 250 °C reveal a molecular sieving behavior, with permselectivities as high as 130 for H2/CH4 at the low temperatures. The permselectivities of the membranes persist at the higher temperatures; at 250 °C H2/N2 (40), H2/CH4 (31) H2/CO2 (7), and CO2/CH4 (4), respectively, while maintaining permeances in the order of 10-7 to 10-8 mol m-2 s-1 Pa-1. Compared to other types of polymer-based membranes, especially the H2/N2 and H2/CH4 selectivities are high, with similar permeances. Consequently, the hybrid polyphosphazene membranes have great potential for use in high-temperature gas separation applications.
Keywords: POSS; gas separation; interfacial polymerization; polyphosphazene; thermal stability.