Engineered graphene-based mixed matrix membranes to boost CO2 separation performance: Latest developments and future prospects

Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) have drawn a great deal of attention as a desirable strategy for efficient gas separation. In this context, graphene-based nanosheets (GNSs) with exceptional structural specifications and molecular separation properties enjoy the promising application in MMMs fabrication. These features endow polymeric matrices with high permselectivity and thermo mechanical stability. Herein, the most recent advances on the application of GNSs-based MMMs for CO 2 separation are comprehensively reviewed. Interfacial morphologies and separation mechanisms that affect virtual gas transport properties in the presence of GNS MMMs are proposed. The key factors influencing gas separation concerning GNSs characteristics, including type, lateral size, in-plane pores, and interlayer channels of GNSs, are discussed. As the major part of this review, rational strategies to boost gas separation performance of GNS-MMMs, such as employing various surface modifications and incorporation of other additives as third components, are provided in detail. Finally, the remaining challenges and future outlook of GNSs-based MMMs are outlined. • Advances of state-of-the-art MMMs embedding with GNSs for CO 2 separation. • Effect of intrinsic/extrinsic properties of GNSs on polymer/filler interfacial morphology. • Strategies for surface modification of GNSs to boost gas transport properties. • Future research directions for the preparation of advanced GNSs-MMMs.