Synergistic Construction of Sub-Nanometer Channel Membranes through MOF–Polymer Composites: Strategies and Nanofiltration Applications
Qian Chen,
Ying Tang,
Yang-Min Ding,
Hong-Ya Jiang,
Zi-Bo Zhang,
Wei-Xing Li,
Mei-Ling Liu,
Shi-Peng Sun
Affiliations
Qian Chen
State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Special Separation Membranes, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Ying Tang
State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Special Separation Membranes, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Yang-Min Ding
State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Special Separation Membranes, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Hong-Ya Jiang
State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Special Separation Membranes, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Zi-Bo Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Special Separation Membranes, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Wei-Xing Li
State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Special Separation Membranes, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Mei-Ling Liu
State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Special Separation Membranes, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Shi-Peng Sun
State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Special Separation Membranes, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
The selective separation of small molecules at the sub-nanometer scale has broad application prospects in the field, such as energy, catalysis, and separation. Conventional polymeric membrane materials (e.g., nanofiltration membranes) for sub-nanometer scale separations face challenges, such as inhomogeneous channel sizes and unstable pore structures. Combining polymers with metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), which possess uniform and intrinsic pore structures, may overcome this limitation. This combination has resulted in three distinct types of membranes: MOF polycrystalline membranes, mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs), and thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes. However, their effectiveness is hindered by the limited regulation of the surface properties and growth of MOFs and their poor interfacial compatibility. The main issues in preparing MOF polycrystalline membranes are the uncontrollable growth of MOFs and the poor adhesion between MOFs and the substrate. Here, polymers could serve as a simple and precise tool for regulating the growth and surface functionalities of MOFs while enhancing their adhesion to the substrate. For MOF mixed-matrix membranes, the primary challenge is the poor interfacial compatibility between polymers and MOFs. Strategies for the mutual modification of MOFs and polymers to enhance their interfacial compatibility are introduced. For TFN membranes, the challenges include the difficulty in controlling the growth of the polymer selective layer and the performance limitations caused by the “trade-off” effect. MOFs can modulate the formation process of the polymer selective layer and establish transport channels within the polymer matrix to overcome the “trade-off” effect limitations. This review focuses on the mechanisms of synergistic construction of polymer–MOF membranes and their structure–nanofiltration performance relationships, which have not been sufficiently addressed in the past.
