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Updated: Nov 16, 2025
Electrophoretic Crystallization of Ultrathin High-performance Metal-organic Framework Membranes
Published on: August 16, 2018
Aqueous One-Step Modulation for Synthesizing Monodispersed ZIF-8 Nanocrystals for Mixed-Matrix Membrane
Xu Jiang1, Shanshan He1, Gang Han2
1MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Enhancing the monodispersity and surface properties of nanoporous zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are crucial for maximizing their performance in advanced nanocomposites for separations. Herein, we developed an in situ method to synthesize monodispersed ZIF-8 nanocrystals with unique dopamine (DA) surface decoration layer (ZIF-8-DA) in an aqueous solution at room temperature. Interestingly, the in situ formation of the monodispersed ZIF-8-DA nanocrystals experiences a triple-stage crystallization process, resulting in a rhombic dodecahedron architecture, which is greatly different from the synthesis of conventional ZIF-8. The crystallinity and abundant microporosity of ZIF-8-DA nanocrystals is well maintained even with the DA surface decoration. Owing to the advanced surface compatibility and pore properties of ZIF-8-DA, ZIF-8-DA/Matrimid mixed-matrix membranes exhibit both higher gas permeability and selectivity than the pristine Matrimid polyimide membrane, which breaks out the traditional "trade-off" phenomena between permeability and selectivity.
