For the past years a big number of fundamental and applied research is dedicated to the studying of properties of polymeric materials, containing different nanoparticles, zeolites, carbon nanotubes (CNT), metalorganic framework structure etc. In the interaction with nanoparticles the structure of polymers is transformed, which leads to a significant change of physical properties of such materials; for example, the parametres of molecule diffusion change. Such materials (mixed matrix membrane) are considered the most perspective for modernization of membrane technologies of separation of gas and liquids.

MEPhI Department of molecular physics employees together with their colleagues from A.V.Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis, RAS have worked out methods of polymers’ modification by incorporation of carbon nanotubes. “We managed to define conditions of forming and necessary parameters of structure from carbon nanotubes in a polymer, which guarantees significant enlargement of membrane permeability to certain gases and liquids. The program package, developed in MEPhI, allows conduct modelling and calculate geometry features of membranes and clusters from nanotubes in any type of polymers. Using unique complex of experimental equipment, we obtained and researched samples of so-called percolation membranes, the transport properties of which are a lot better than of existing polymers,” Department №10 Associate Professor A.M.Grekhov said.

After adding 1% of CNT masses into poly (vinyl trimethylsilane) the permeability of such materials increased 5 times for nitrogen, twice for oxygen, 4 times for methane and 15 times for propane. Such material opens unique perspectives for solution of relevant tasks, for example,    natural-gas stripping, CO2 expulsion from air, nanofiltration of organic mixtures. Currently the developed method of synthesis of hybrid membranes is being approbated for different polymers and will soon be patented.