Three crosslinked porphyrin-based polyimides (PPBPI-H-CR, PPBPI-Mn-CR and PPBPI-Fe-CR)
were synthesized from 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-aminophenyl)porphyrin (TAPP) and 2,5-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)-4’-phenylethynyl-biphenyl dianhydride (PEPHQDA) via polymerization and thermal crosslinking reactions. Their chemical structures were confirmed by FTIR and 13C CP/MAS NMR. SEM, XRD and TEM were used to observe their surface and nature characteristic morphologies as well as pore channels. DSC and TGA were carried out to confirm their crosslinking behaviors and thermal stabilities. PPBPI-H-CR showed the largest specific surface area (733 m2 g-1) and the highest CO2 uptake (2.26 mmol g-1 at 273 K and 1 bar) among the PPBPI-CRs. PPBPI-Mn-CR and PPBPI-Fe-CR compared to PPBPI-H-CR exhibited smaller specific surface areas, more uniform pore sizes around 1.2 nm and larger isosteric heats of adsorption due to the presence of coordination sites for manganese and iron. PPBPI-CRs exhibited separation factors of CO2/N2 (31.48, 35.09 and 45.34) and CO2/CH4 (13.17, 9.06 and 12.99).