Recent progress in polyMOF-based membranes and applications

Abstract

PolyMOFs – hybrid crystals of amorphous polymers and crystalline MOFs, made via polymer-assisted self-inhibited growth – extend the boundaries of materials chemistry and polymer science, with MOFs being modeled in shaping the application-oriented features of polymer-based materials. Polymeric metal–organic frameworks can be stretched into thin films/nanosheets/free-standing membranes and provide water tolerance for selective membrane-based separations. The MOFs are responsible for the careful realization of nanochannels for ultrafast filtration and tailor the membrane selectivity to allow the assay of a broad spectrum of emerging pollutants; meanwhile, the polymeric counterpart affords synergism, offering better dispersion and exceptional structural stability of the hybrid architecture. The development of polyMOF membranes with improved film-forming ability expands the range of applications for polyMOFs, contributing to advancements in materials science and membrane technology. The concise guide map outlined herein gives the breakthroughs in progression accompanying the construction of new hybrid membranes and highlights their important applications in sensing, conduction, and separation, keeping the field evolving to the emerging trends for the foreseeable future.