| Aug 12, 2025 |
Rapid fabrication method boosts efficiency of high-performance MOF membranesScientists develop a fast, low-cost method to make ultrathin MOF membranes, enhancing industrial gas separation and desalination while cutting energy use and emissions.(Nanowerk News) Energy-intensive industrial separations, such as gas purification and water treatment, drive significant energy use and carbon emissions. A new approach to building ultrathin, high-performance membranes could make these processes far more efficient. |
| Researchers at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have developed a rapid method for producing two-dimensional metal–organic framework (MOF) membranes—materials prized for their tunable structures, nanoscale thickness, and precisely engineered pores. These qualities make MOFs ideal for applications like gas separation and desalination, but their commercial potential has been hindered by slow, resource-intensive manufacturing. |
| The team’s technique, reported in National Science Review ("Rapid fabrication of ultrathin two-dimensional metal-organic framework membranes for accurate gas separation"), uses a triggered interfacial synthesis process that merges nanosheet growth at an air–water boundary with a radial thrust-triggered assembly step. This innovation cuts fabrication time from hours or days to just minutes, while using only microliters of organic ligands—reducing both cost and material waste. |
| In tests, the researchers produced a zinc-based MOF membrane with a hydrogen–carbon dioxide separation factor of 210 and a hydrogen permeance of 6.2 × 10⁻⁷ mol/m²·s·Pa. These figures surpass both standard MOF membranes and commercial products, showing clear potential for industrial adoption. |
| The method is also highly adaptable. By varying metal ions and organic ligands, the team created 12 distinct MOF nanosheets with different pore structures and channel properties, opening the door to membranes tailored for specific industrial needs. |
| According to lead researcher Prof. Yang Weishen, this strategy could transform the way ultrathin 2D MOF materials are designed and manufactured, with implications for material science, separation engineering, and advanced device design. |
| Source: Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (Note: Content may be edited for style and length) |
