Gas Separation Membranes Containing Re6Se8(MeCN)62+ Cluster- Supported Cobalt-Porphyrin Complexes

Abstract: Cellulose nitrate (CN) composite membranes, containing cobalt porphyrin (CoP) complexes self-assembled in nanometer-sized rhenium clusters (ReCoP), have been prepared and their oxygen and nitrogen gas permeabilities were analyzed. The solubility of ReCoP and the characteristics of the corresponding composite membranes have been analyzed using a Cahn microbalance, FT-IR, wide angle x-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry. Nitrogen permeability through the CN composite membranes was found to decrease upon addition of ReCoP and CoP, implying that the presence of these oxygen carrier complexes affected the structure of the polymer matrix. Oxygen permeability through composite membranes containing small quantities of ReCoP decreased, but increased with increasing concentration. At low ReCoP concentrations, oxygen gas transport was affected by the matrix. However, higher concentrations of ReCoP increased oxygen permeability due to its reversible and specific interaction with oxygen, effectively realizing ReCoP carrier-mediated oxygen transport