NAMS 2002 Workshop - ICOM 2008

Gas Separation I – 1 – Keynote
Monday July 14, 9:30 AM-10:15 AM, Kaua’i
Beyond Inorganic-Organic Nanocomposites for Molecular Separations
M. Wessling (Speaker), University of Twente, the Netherlands, M.Wessling@tnw.utwente.nl
Over the past two decades, hybrid materials comprising a polymer matrix with
embedded micrometer sized inorganic particles have been developed with
respect to their mass transport properties. The particles may be permeable as in
the case of zeolites and have a beneficial effect on the separation properties.
Impermeable particles often improve barrier properties. Smaller sub-micron sized
impermeable particles, such as nano-sized silica, increase the free-volume at the
particle-polymer interface, which results in an increase of permeability and socalled
inverse selective separation properties.
This presentation focuses on the molecular separation properties of nanocomposite
materials other than inorganic-organic. Three systems will be
discussed in detail: * fullerene-modified polyphenylene oxide PPO: Why is
binding better than dispersing? * Dendrimer-modified polymers: a supramolecular
toolbox with benefits? * Segmented block-copolymers: how does the interface of
the soft and hard blocks influence molecular separations? The presentation will
reflect on other nanocomposite materials and their potential for molecular
separations.