Electrifying membrane synthesis
In 2018, we reported the first example of electrified MOF membrane synthesis, where a conductive porous support was used directly as the cathode and a continuous zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) membrane could be obtained within only 20 min. The role of the external current during the electrified growth of MOF membranes is to promote the ligand deprotonation process. Notably, ligand deprotonation is of prime importance in MOF chemistry and is the prerequisite of all the ensuing coordination reactions...
Merged-matrix membranes
In 2026, we raised the concept of merged-matrix membranes, which are a highly effective subclass of mixed-matrix membranes fabricated through a universal merged-phase approach, wherein molecular anchors dynamically dock a polymer corona onto metal-organic framework (MOF) nanosheets to fuse them into a single pseudo-continuous phase. This structural design endows the solid MOFs with polymer-like surface properties, inducing osmotic and entropic repulsions that counteract van der Waals attractions and prevent irreversible agglomeration during solution processing. As a result, the MOF, molecular anchors, and polymer form an intimately interconnected network with dense interfaces rather than distinct separated phases, enabling the direct solution assembly of quasi-pure architectures with greater than 90 volume percent MOF loading. Ultimately, this unique configuration fully unlocks the intrinsic molecular sieving potential of parent MOFs while successfully retaining the mechanical robustness and large-area processability of conventional polymers.
Shape-mismatch induced separation
When researchers aim to fabricate a gas-separation membrane, they usually check the kinetic size of each gas component and then look for a material with a suitable pore size. This routine logic makes sense in most scenarios, but not always — as shown by the problem of nitrogen–methane separation. We have designed a porous membrane that can separate nitrogen from methane by exploiting an important difference between the molecules: their shapes...
Separation of hydrocarbon mixtures
Olefins purification from the olefin/paraffin mixtures is one of the most energy-intensive processes in industry and innovative separations are needed. Separation of short-chain olefin/paraffin mixtures is currently dominated by cryogenic distillation, which consumes over 120 TBtu per year... We designed different types of MOF membranes to address the energy-efficient separation of hydrocarbons, which could help save up to 89% of energy consumptions compared with the traditional distillation methods.
Continuous carbon capture
The steady removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from diverse gas streams is a critical step to achieve the blueprint of carbon neutrality and for the clean energy production, such as hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4). However, the associated energy and capital inputs are considerably high, necessitating the development of effective technologies for CO2 separation processes. We designed a special CO2-recognition membrane for the continuous and efficient CO2 capture from various mixtures...
Fine-tuning of porous materials
Fine-tuning of porous materials refers to the process of modifying and optimizing the properties and performance of these materials by controlling their pore structure, surface chemistry, and other characteristics at the nanoscale... Porous materials can be designed to selectively capture and store specific guest molecules within their pores, leading to unique functionalities such as controlled release, drug delivery, or gas storage.