A newly designed diamine monomer, 3,3,3′,3′-tetramethyl-1,1′-spirobisindane-5,5′-diamino-6,6′-diol,
was successfully used to synthesize two types of polyimides for membrane-based
gas separation applications. The novel polymers integrate significant
microporosity and polar hydroxyl groups, showing the combined features
of polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) and functional polyimides
(PIs). They possess high thermal stability, good solubility, and easy
processability for membrane fabrication; the resulting membranes exhibit
good permeability owing to the intrinsic microporosity introduced
by the highly contorted PIM segments as well as high CO2/CH4 selectivity that arises from the hydroxyl groups.
The membranes show CO2/CH4 selectivities of
>20 when tested with a 1:1 CO2/CH4 mixture
for
feed pressures up to 50 bar. In addition, the incorporation of hydroxyl
groups and microporosity in the polymers enhances their affinity to
water, leading to remarkable water sorption capacities of up to 22
wt % at 35 °C and 95% relative humidity.