Ultra-thin and high hydrogen permeable carbon molecular sieve membrane prepared by using polydopamine as carbon precursor

Abstract Carbon molecular sieve membranes (CMSMs) have attracted much attention because of its high stability. Attributing to its non-toxic, excellent adhesion and high carbon yield, polydopamine is a promising carbon precursor for the fabrication of CMSMs. In this study, ultra-thin (80 nm) and high hydrogen permeable CMSMs are prepared by using polydopamine as the carbon precursor. At 25 °C and 1 bar, the CMSM shows a high H2 permeance of 2.7 × 10−6 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1, which is much higher than that of the previously reported CMSMs, and ideal separation factors of H2/CO2, H2/CH4 and H2/C3H8 are 18.3, 31.4 and 49.1, respectively.