1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi‘an 710064, China
2. State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi‘an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Membrane separation technology is one of the most potential high-efficiency carbon capture technologies, with advantages such as relatively low cost, no phase transition during separation, continuous operation, and high energy efficiency. Mixed matrix membranes organically combine polymers and inorganic fillers to exert a synergistic enhancement effect, which greatly improves the gas separation efficiency, and thus has been widely studied and applied. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) are natural clay minerals with a special hollow nanotube-like structure, which have the advantages of excellent performance and low price compared with other inorganic fillers. Incorporation of modified HNTs into polymer matrix is expected to lead to higher permeability and/or selectivity of membranes, and improve long-term stability, mechanical properties, and thermal stability of membranes. This paper reviews the latest research progress on the structure and properties, gas transport mechanism, preparation methods and gas separation comprehensive performance of HNTs/polymer mixed matrix membranes. The application status and future development direction of HNTs/polymer mixed matrix membranes in the field of natural gas and flue gas decarbonization are summarized. This review has guiding significance for promoting the industrialization process of HNTs/polymer mixed matrix membranes.