KAIST team finds way to separate out hydrogen with filter

A team of KAIST researchers has developed a new technology to separate hydrogen from other types of molecules using a carbon filter. The technology is based on how a thin layer of carbon particles — called carbon molecular sieve (CMS) ..

A team of KAIST researchers has developed a new technology to separate hydrogen from other types of molecules using a carbon filter.

The technology is based on how a thin layer of carbon particles — called carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes — can act as a sieve to filter out molecules of different sizes.

Led by Professor Koh Dong-yeun of the chemical and biomolecular engineering department at KAIST, the team has found that the size of the carbon sieve holes can be altered by irradiating, or shooting, the membrane with an electron beam.

By irradiating the membrane for a longer duration, the membrane holes can be adjusted to filter out hydrogen molecules from other molecules that are stuck together in gas solutions. Hydrogen molecules are smaller than others.

A paper titled “Electron-mediated control of nanoporosity for targeted molecular separation in carbon membranes” with the findings of the research has been posted on the Nature Communications online website.

“The importance of generating and decreasing the dependence on overseas import of energy-efficient hydrogen has become crucial since opting toward hydrogen economy,” Koh said in a press release.

“We hope to help strengthen Korea’s independence and global competitiveness in the energy sector by expanding the use of this technology."

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]