In January 2021, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and Xuezhong He's Research Group of GTIIT, together with researchers from the Institute of Process Engineering of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tianjin University, published an article on "Carbon hollow fiber membranes for a molecular sieve with precise-cutoff ultramicropores for superior hydrogen separation" in Nature Communications. In addition, the article was selected as the Editor Highlights of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry. The first author of the article is Dr. Lei Linfeng from Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and the corresponding authors are Associate Prof. Xuezhong He from GTIIT and Prof. Michael D. Guiver from Tianjin University.

The article reports a facile and scalable method for the fabrication of cellulose-based asymmetric carbon hollow fiber membranes (CHFMs) with ultramicropores of 3–4Å for superior H₂ separation. The membrane fabrication process does not require complex pretreatments to avoid pore collapse before the carbonization of cellulose precursors. A H₂/CO₂ selectivity of 83.9 at 130°C (H₂/N₂ selectivity of >800, H₂/CH₄ selectivity of >5700) demonstrates that the membrane provides a precise cutoff to discriminate between small gas molecules (H₂) and larger gas molecules. In addition, the membrane exhibits superior mixed gas separation performances combined with water vapor- and high pressure-resistant stability. The present approach for the fabrication of high-performance CMS membranes derived from cellulose precursors opens a new avenue for H₂-related separations.

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Carbon hollow fiber membranes for a molecular sieve with precise-cutoff ultramicropores for superior hydrogen separation

Linfeng Lei, Fengjiao Pan, Arne Lindbråthen, Xiangping Zhang, Magne Hillestad, Yi Nie, Lu Bai, Xuezhong He, Michael D. Guiver

Nat. Commun., 2021, 12, 268, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20628-9

Xuezhong He is Associate Professor at GTIIT. His research is focused on membrane material development (e.g., polymeric, facilitated transport, nanocomposite, and carbon membranes) and applications in energy-related processes, with solid knowledge in carbon capture and renewable energies. He has authored/co-authored >45 papers (e.g., Nat. Commun., Chem. Eng. J., AIChE J., J. Membr. Sci., I&EC Res. etc.), edited one book and seven book chapters, and filed one patent, with the total citation of >2300 times and an h-index of 22 (Google scholar). He serves as the Editorial Board Member of Membranes and Guest Editor of Frontiers in Chemistry, and has been leading and participating in eight research, innovation, and demo projects.

Text/Photos: Provided by Xuezhong He