| Sumario: | This study aims to enhance the compatibility between filler and polymer in mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), addressing an important challenge in membrane development. ZIF-94, known for its affinity to CO2, was partially modified with 2-undecylimidazolate (umIm) through the solvent-assisted ligand exchange (SALE) method to improve its compatibility with the prototypical polymer of intrinsic microporosity PIM-1. The modified ZIF-94 (ZIF-94-umIm) can be considered as an amphiphilic MOF with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties, while maintaining a considerably high CO2 adsorption capacity (2.34 mmol g-1 at 90 kPa and 0 °C). Gas separation experiments were performed using mixed gas compositions of 15/85 CO2/N2 at 3 bar and 35 °C. The resulting MMM with a 5 wt.% loading exhibited an enhanced CO2 separation performance, with ca. 70% and 10% increases in CO2 permeability (8900 Barrer) and CO2/N2 selectivity (20.2), respectively, compared to pristine PIM-1 membranes. In addition, thin film nanocomposite membranes were prepared showing a 23.5 CO2/N2 selectivity at 2350 GPU of CO2. This modification strategy shows a great potential for improving the CO2 capture technologies, highlighting the potential of tailoring MOF fillers for advanced membrane materials in gas separation applications.
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