Data from: Halloysite nanotube-based electrospun ceramic nanofibre mat: a novel support for zeolite membranes

Some key parameters of supports such as porosity, pore shape and size are of great importance for fabrication and performance of zeolite membranes. In this study, we fabricated millimetre-thick, self-standing electrospun ceramic nanofibre mats and employed them as a novel support for zeolite membranes. The nanofibre mats were prepared by electrospinning a halloysite nanotubes/polyvinyl pyrrolidone composite followed by a programmed sintering process. The interwoven nanofibre mats possess up to 80% porosity, narrow pore size distribution, low pore tortuosity and highly interconnected pore structure. Compared with the commercial α-Al2O3 supports prepared by powder compaction and sintering, the halloysite nanotube-based mats (HNMs) show higher flux, better adsorption of zeolite seeds, adhesion of zeolite membranes and lower Al leaching. Four types of zeolite membranes supported on HNMs have been successfully synthesized with either in situ crystallization or a secondary growth method, demonstrating good universality of HNMs for supporting zeolite membranes.载体的关键参数（如孔隙率、孔形貌与孔径尺寸）对沸石膜（zeolite membranes）的制备与性能具有至关重要的影响。本研究制备了毫米级厚度的自立式静电纺丝陶瓷纳米纤维膜（electrospun ceramic nanofibre mats），并将其作为一种新型沸石膜载体。该纳米纤维膜通过静电纺丝制备埃洛石纳米管（halloysite nanotubes, HNTs）/聚乙烯吡咯烷酮（polyvinyl pyrrolidone, PVP）复合溶液，随后经过程序控温烧结工艺制得。该交织型纳米纤维膜具备高达80%的孔隙率、窄孔径分布、低孔道曲折度以及高度连通的孔隙结构。与通过粉末压制成型及烧结工艺制备的商用α-Al₂O₃载体相比，埃洛石纳米管基膜（halloysite nanotube-based mats, HNMs）展现出更高的通量、更优异的沸石晶种吸附能力与沸石膜附着性能，且铝溶出量更低。采用原位结晶法（in situ crystallization）或二次生长法（secondary growth method），成功合成了四种负载于HNMs的沸石膜，验证了HNMs作为沸石膜载体的良好通用性。