Prof Neil McKeown’s research involves using organic chemistry to develop novel porous materials for use in molecular separations, catalysis and sensors. He is the inventor of the class of materials called Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs).  PIMs have become the focus of international activity in numerous areas of research including their use as membranes for gas separations of importance to the energy and chemical sectors.  In addition, a PIM is the key component in a sensor, commercialised by 3M, which protects the health of workers in environments with high levels of organic vapours.  Prior to his appointment to the Crawford Tercentenary Chair at Edinburgh in 2014, he held academic positions at the Universities of Manchester and Cardiff. 

Keynote (Gas Separation)

Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs) as membranes FOR ENERGY APPLICATIONS

N. B. McKeown

EastChem, School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JF, UK.

(neil.mckeown@ed.ac.uk)

Abstract: Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs) combine the desirable processability of polymers with a significant degree of microporosity generated from the inefficient packing of their rigid and contorted macromolecular structures. They are attracting attention for a number of applications including the fabrication of optical sensors and as membrane materials for gas separations, pervaporation and organic solvent nanofiltration. The ultimate aim of our research is the development of a solution processable and microporous polymer that demonstrates similarly high gas selectivities to those of carbon molecular sieves, which are also amorphous microporous materials (Fig. 1).^1-4 In particular, the focus will be on recently prepared PIMs with exceptionally rigid polymeric structures that yield high selectivities and those with macromolecular chains of 2-dimensional shape (e.g. PIM-TMN-Trip),⁴ which demonstrate permeabilties similar to that of the ultrapermeable polymer PTMSP. Ageing data and their potential as materials for gas separation membranes will be discussed.

1.   P. M. Budd, N. B. McKeown, B. S. Ghanem, K. J. Msayib, D. Fritsch, L. Starannikova, N. Belov, O. Sanfirova, Y. Yampolskii and V. Shantarovich, Journal of Membrane Science, 2008, 325, 851.

2.   C. G. Bezzu, M. Carta, A. Tonkins, J. C. Jansen, P. Bernardo, F. Bazzarelli and N. B. McKeown, Advanced Materials, 2012, 24, 5930.

3.   M. Carta, M. Croad, R. Malpass-Evans, J. C. Jansen, P. Bernardo, G. Clarizia, K. Friess, M. Lanc and N. B. McKeown, Advanced Materials, 2014, 26,  3526.

4.   I. Rose, C. G. Bezzu, M. Carta, B. Comesaña-Gándara, E. Lasseuguette, M. C. Ferrari, P. Bernardo, G. Clarizia, A. Fuoco, J. C. Jansen, K. E. Hart, T. P. Liyana-Arachchi, C. M. Colina, N. B. McKeown, Nature Materials, 2017, 16, 932.