Coordination Polymer Glass-Unified MOF Membranes for High-Efficiency Molecular Separations.

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) demonstrate significant potential as separation membranes in energy-efficient industrial applications. Nevertheless, fabricating an arbitrary MOF membrane with intrinsic separation capability remains a persistent challenge due to intercrystalline defects, necessitating case-specific optimization of synthesis conditions for different separation targets. Herein, the first coordination polymer (CP) glass-unified MOF (GUM) membranes are fabricated by a melt-quenching approach, establishing a tunable and facile strategy for on-demand MOF membrane fabrication. The three types of Zr-GUM, Al-GUM, and Zn-GUM membranes with different Zr-, Al-, Zn-MOFs are defect-free and feature high-density, interconnected, selective nanochannels that dominate the transport process. This strategy enables precise and rapid molecular separation in organic solvent nanofiltration, isomer pervaporation, and gas separation. Meanwhile, through non-destructive modification of MOF crystals, the separation performance can be precisely fine-tuned without compromising the structural integrity of the GUM membrane. Furthermore, leveraging the meltability of CP glass, this strategy enables the fabrication of innovative defect-free membranes with integrated self-healing properties. The GUM membranes demonstrate sustained high-efficiency separation performance coupled with exceptional mechanical robustness, chemical resistance, and thermal stability, providing a facile strategy for both gas and liquid membrane separations.