Microporous copolymers for increased gas selectivity

Microporous organic polymers have been synthesised from aniline using Friedel–Crafts alkylation. Networks synthesised solely from aniline were non-porous to nitrogen. However, co-polymerisation with benzene resulted in networks with apparent Brunauaer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface areas up to 1100 m2 g−1. Increased aniline content in the hyper-crosslinked networks led to improved CO2/N2 selectivity, suggesting a strategy for the design of materials for post-combustion carbon capture.