Apatite-Graphene Interface Channel-Aided Rapid and Selective H-2 Permeation

Designing efficient membranes for gas separation is a challenge for future clean energy generation. Here we report a graphene-wrapped hydroxyapatite (G-HAP) membrane for efficient H-2 separation from CH4 and light hydrocarbons. The pores are prepared by graphene-wrapping HAP crystals containing surface grooves along the c-axis. The grooves form 1D channels at the graphene-HAP interface. The G-HAP membrane achieves a permeance of 5.5 x 10(-7) mol m(-2) s(-1) Pa-1 (2.5 x 10(5) barrer) and selectivity of 40.0 for H-2/CH4. The G-HAP membrane created by graphene-wrapping has channels derived from the surface groove structure that are responsible for the gas separation, as suggested by molecular dynamics simulations. The proposed graphene-wrapping approach is promising for the development of membranes for efficient H-2 separation.