Bimetallic PdPt nanoparticle-incorporated PEDOT:PSS/guar gum-blended membranes for enhanced CO2 separation†

Abstract

To address the escalating demand for efficient CO₂ separation technologies, we introduce novel membranes utilizing natural polymer guar gum (GG), conjugate polymer (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate)) PEDOT:PSS, and bimetallic PdPt nanoparticles. Bimetallic PdPt nanoparticles were synthesized using the wet chemical method and characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The morphologies, chemical bonds, functional groups, and mechanical properties of the fabricated membranes were characterized using various techniques. Through meticulous fabrication and characterization, the binary blended membranes demonstrated enhanced homogeneity and smoothness in their structure, attributed to the interaction between the polymers, and superior CO₂ permeability due to the amphiphilic nature of the PEDOT:PSS polymer. Gas separation experiments performed using H₂, N₂, and CO₂ gases confirmed that the 20% PEDOT:PSS/GG blended membranes showed the best performance with sufficient mechanical properties. Moreover, the results demonstrated an increase of 172% in CO₂ permeability and 138% in CO₂/H₂ selectivity, respectively. Furthermore, integrating bimetallic PdPt nanoparticles provided an additional 197% increase in CO₂/H₂ selectivity, owing to the unique catalytic activities of noble metal nanoparticles. The study not only underscores the transformative potential of polymer blending and noble metal engineering, but also highlights the significance of using natural polymers for sustainable environmental solutions.