MOFs/PVA hybrid membranes with enhanced mechanical and ion-conductive properties

Abstract

Nanomaterials have been treated as effective dopants for enhancing mechanical and ion-conductive properties of polymer membranes. Among various nanomaterials, metal–organic frameworks are attracting enormous attention from researchers because of their intriguing structural and functional properties. Here we report a gentle and simple synthesis method of ZIF-8 nanomaterials, which are applied as dopants for polyvinyl alcohol composite membranes. This nanomaterials display uniform size distribution and high purity through various structural investigations. The as-prepared polymer composite membranes present enhanced mechanical and ion-conductive properties compared to pristine samples. This work provides a novel ideal on the design of nanomaterial dopants for high-performance polymer membranes.

Keywords

• gentle synthesis
• metal–organic frameworks
• dopants
• polymer membranes
• enhanced properties