Infiltration of precursors into a porous alumina support for ZIF-8 membrane synthesis

Abstract: A new synthesis method was developed to synthesize ZIF-8 membrane by infiltrating precursors into a porous alumina support as a seed-and-nutrient layer, and subsequent solvothermal synthesis. A precursor layer with a thickness of about 10μm was formed inside the porous alumina support and the ZIF-8 membrane grew from both the seeds embedded in the precursor layer and the synthesis solution under solvothermal synthesis conditions. The effects of the solvothermal synthesis temperature and time were investigated, and a continuous and stable ZIF-8 membrane was prepared at 120°C for 8h. Gas permeation tests indicated the membrane synthesized at 120°C for 8h was continuous and compact, and had H2/N2 ideal selectivity of 5.7 with a H2 permeance of 1.7×10−7 molm−2 s−1 Pa−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]