Porous polymer networks: synthesis, porosity, and applications in gas storage/separation

Abstract

Three porous polymer networks (PPNs) have been synthesized by the homocoupling of tetrahedral monomers. Like other hyper-cross-linked polymer networks, these materials are insoluble in conventional solvents and exhibit high thermal and chemical stability. Their porosity was confirmed by N₂ sorption isotherms at 77 κ . One of these materials, PPN-3, has a Langmuir surface area of 5323 m² g⁻¹. Their clean energy applications, especially in H₂, CH₄, and CO₂ storage, as well as CO₂/CH₄ separation, have been carefully investigated. Although PPN-1 has the highest gas affinity because of its smaller pore size, the maximal gas uptake capacity is directly proportional to their surface area. PPN-3 has the highest H₂ uptake capacity among these three (4.28 wt %, 77 κ ). Although possessing the lowest surface area, PPN-1 shows the best CO₂/CH₄ selectivity among them.