For the first time, highly mesoporous and water-repellent SiO2 aerogels were successfully coated onto a macroporous Al2O3 membrane using methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) precursors. The MTMS-derived hydrophobic SiO2 aerogel membranes exhibited at least 500% higher CO2 absorption flux than the uncoated MTMS-based aerogel membranes and could be reused and continuously operated for CO2 absorption for extended periods of time. As a result, MTMS-derived water-repellent silica aerogel membrane contactors are a potential candidate for large-scale CO2 absorption in industrial power plants.
