Radiation-induced preparation of Zn(bdc)(dabco)0.5 membrane and its light hydrocarbon adsorption performance

This article describes the preparation of continuous metal-organic framework (MOF) Zn(bdc)(dabco)‍0.5 membranes on flexible polymer substrates using a radiation-induced method. The morphologies and structures of the membranes were investigated using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Their light hydrocarbon-adsorption properties were characterized using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area measurements, density functional theory pore-size analysis, and single-component adsorption isotherms. The results indicated that the Zn(bdc)(dabco)0.5 membranes exhibited higher adsorption for ethane and propane than for methane. Moreover, the Zn(bdc)(dabco)0.5 membranes showed enhanced ethane/methane selectivity (reaching 11 at atmospheric pressure) and propane/methane selectivity (reaching 10 at atmospheric pressure). This study demonstrates the unique advantages of MOF membranes in the field of separation.