Role of Grafting Density and Nitrile Functionalization on Gas Transport in Polymers with Side-Chain Porosity

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c02348
• Publication Date: 2024-03-01T13:01:48Z
• Authors: Kayla R. Storme; Sharon Lin; You-Chi Mason Wu; Sherrie X. Qian; Timothy M. Swager; Zachary P. Smith
• Keywords: ROMP; Norbornene; Side chain; Ring-opening metathesis polymerisation

This study details the enhancement of CO2 selectivity in ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) polymers that contain nitrile moieties and micropore-generating ladder side chains. A material, CN-ROMP homopolymer, with nitriles chains was originally targeted synthesized; however, its low molecular weight backbone rigidity precluded film formation. As a result, an alternative method pursued wherein copolymers were synthesized using norbornene (N) (NN). Herein, we report investigation structure–property relationships functionalization grafting density on transport properties these ROMP polymers. Nitrile-containing showed increase CO2/CH4 sorption concomitant permselectivity when compared to unfunctionalized (nitrile-free) analogues. The stability CO2-rich environments is enhanced as rigid, pore-generating increases apparent tunability plasticization pressure observed function content. Lower loadings resulted higher points. Gas permeability found correlate most strongly concentration macromonomers polymer chain.