Enhanced hydrogen permeance through graphene oxide membrane deposited on asymmetric spinel hollow fiber substrate

Membranes of graphene oxide (GO) present suitable application for hydrogen (H2) purification. The deposition of a selective and high permeable GO membrane on a proper substrate is still a challenge. Here we applied the vacuum-assisted method to deposit a GO layer on asymmetric spinel (MgAl2O4) hollow fibers. The synthetized GO showed a nanosheeted morphological structure and a relative high degree of oxidation. The hollow fibers were produced with dolomite and alumina as the ceramic starting material and showed the desired asymmetric pore size distribution, in addition to suitable bending strength, 54.88 +/- 4.25 MPa, and average surface roughness, 180 +/- 8.2 nm. A continuous GO layer of 1.7 +/- 0.2 mm was deposited onto the fiber outer surface. The composite MgAl2O4/GO membrane presented H2 permeance of 8.2 +/- 0.0 x 10-7 mol s-1 m-2 Pa-1 at room temperature (approximately 25 degrees C) and 0.3 MPa of transmembrane pressure. Ideal hydrogen/ nitrogen and hydrogen/carbon dioxide selectivity values were of 3.3 +/- 0.0 and 11.4 +/- 0.1, respectively. (c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Graphene oxide (GO) membranes are suitable for hydrogen purification. This study successfully deposited a GO layer on asymmetric spinel hollow fibers using the vacuum-assisted method, creating a composite membrane with high permeability, ideal hydrogen selectivity, and high oxidation degree.