High‐quality 2D MFI nanosheet coatings were prepared on α‐alumina hollow fiber supports by vacuum filtration and then transformed into molecular sieving membranes by two sequential hydrothermal treatments. This processing method eliminates the need for specially engineered silica‐based support materials that have so far been necessary to allow the formation of functional membranes from 2D MFI nanosheets. The sequential steps enhance adhesion of the membrane on the fiber support, fill in nanoscale gaps between the 2D nanosheets, and preserve the desirable (0
Despite the high potential of zeolite MFI membranes for the separation of important hydrocarbons, their impact on industrial hydrocarbon separations has been limited by challenges in scalable fabrication methods and use of high‐cost membrane supports. Here a one‐step method for fabrication of highly selective and thin (<1 µm) MFI zeolite membranes on low‐cost α‐alumina hollow fiber supports is demonstrated. This is enabled by use of a highly concentrated silicate precursor gel containing MFI nanocrystals that induces a compact membrane layer at the support surface in a single‐step membrane synthesis. These one‐step crystallized MFI hollow fiber membranes show excellent characteristics for butane isomer separation (
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10378953
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Advanced Materials Interfaces
- Volume:
- 7
- Issue:
- 19
- ISSN:
- 2196-7350
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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