Leuven researchers combine polymers and zeolite in a membrane matrix for superefficient gas separation.

Separating CO₂ from gas mixtures is an energy-intensive process. Zeolites, a type of molecular sieve, can help carry out this process. You can make membranes from pure zeolite, but that is difficult to do. In addition, zeolite membranes are not bendable and synthesis does not succeed for all types of zeolites. You can combine zeolite with a polymer to make a material that is easier to process, but if you mix a zeolite with a polymer in the traditional way, the adhesion between the two components is weak. The resulting membrane will leak and does not achieve the desired selectivity.