Crosslinked ultra-thin polyimide film as a gas separation layer for composite membranes

Composite membranes with an ultra-thin polyimide separation layer were prepared by two-dimensional UV crosslinking of Langmuir-Blodgett films of a salt of polyamic acid based on 4,4′-hexafluoroisopropylidenebis(phthalic anhydride) and 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl 3,5-diaminobenzoate on the argon/water interface and then its deposition onto the surface of a porous support and by subsequent thermal imidization. Separation factors for CO2/N2, α = 6.4, and for O2/N2, α = 2.4, at permeation rates of the order 10−6 cm3 (STP)/(cm2 s cm Hg) were reached.