Citation: Yong Zhang, Jiangnan Yu, Chao Liang, Zhaomin Li, Xueqin Li. Mimicking tollgate-highway systems by cellulose-MXene networks in MMMs for enhancing CO₂ separation[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(6): 112065. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.112065 shu

Mimicking tollgate-highway systems by cellulose-MXene networks in MMMs for enhancing CO₂ separation

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering/State Key Laboratory Incubation Base for Green Processing of Chemical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China

lizhm@upc.edu.cn

lixueqin861003@163.com

Received Date: 15 April 2025
Revised Date: 8 September 2025
Accepted Date: 5 November 2025
Available Online: 5 November 2025

Figures(5)

In gas separation mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), the interlayer stacking of nanosheet fillers directly leads to tortuous transport pathways that significantly reduce both membrane permeability and selectivity. To solve this issue, this study employs cellulose (MC) to interweave MXene for preparing cellulose-MXene (MC-MX) networks, which are then mixed with Pebax MH 1657 to prepare MMMs for enhancing CO₂ separation performance. The MC-MX network mimics the tollgate-highway system within the MMMs. In this system, MX acts as a selective tollgate that preferentially recognizes CO₂ through hydrogen bond interactions while improving CO₂/CH₄ selectivity in MMMs. Meanwhile, the hydroxyl–rich surfaces of MC provide low-resistance transport highway for accelerated CO₂ transport within the MMMs. Compared to the pure Pebax membrane, the CO₂ permeability of the Pebax/MC-MX-1wt% MMM increases to 580.46 Barrer (97%), and the CO₂/CH₄ selectivity increased to 41.48 (70%). Furthermore, the separation performance of the Pebax/MC-MX-1wt% MMM approaches the 2019 upper bound. The research results indicate that the tollgate-highway strategy effectively improves CO₂/CH₄ separation performance in MMMs, offering practical implications for the rational design of high-performance membranes.
- Mixed matrix membrane,
- Tollgate-highway,
- MXene,
- Hydrogen bond,
- CO₂ separation
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Mimicking tollgate-highway systems by cellulose-MXene networks in MMMs for enhancing CO2 separation

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Mimicking tollgate-highway systems by cellulose-MXene networks in MMMs for enhancing CO₂ separation