The influence of hydrostatic pressure on gas diffusion in polymer and nano-composite membranes: Application to membrane inlet mass spectrometry

► A nano-composite membrane was directly coupled to the inlet system of a mass spectrometer. ► The nano-composite membrane was created by the deposition of a thin polysiloxane film on the surface of an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane, forming a polysiloxane nano-composite (PNC) membrane. ► The gas-permeation properties of the PNC membrane were compared to those of a conventional polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane over a range of hydrostatic pressures. ► Permeation of gases through the PNC membrane was much less affected by hydrostatic pressure than permeation through the PDMS membrane.