Perspective of mixed matrix membranes for carbon capture

Polymeric membrane-based gas separation has found wide applications in industry, such as carbon capture, hydrogen recovery, natural gas sweetening, as well as oxygen enrichment. Commercial gas separation membranes are required to have high gas permeability and selectivity, while being cost-effective to process. Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) have a composite structure that consists of polymers and fillers, therefore featuring the advantages of both materials. Much effort has been made to improve the gas separation performance of MMMs as well as general membrane properties, such as mechanical strength and thermal stability. This perspective describes potential use of MMMs for carbon capture applications, explores their limitations in fabrication and methods to overcome them, and addresses their performance under industry gas conditions.