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Updated: Oct 5, 2025

Electrophoretic Crystallization of Ultrathin High-performance Metal-organic Framework Membranes
Published on: August 16, 2018
Solvent-Influenced Fragmentations in Free-Standing Three-Dimensional Covalent Organic Framework Membranes for
Abdul Khayum Mohammed1, Ayesha A Al Khoori2,3, Matthew A Addicoat4
1Department of Chemistry, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Abstract:
The ordered open organic frameworks membranes are attractive candidates for flow-assisted molecular separations. The physicochemical properties of such membranes mostly depend on their selectively chosen functional building blocks. In this work, we have introduced a novel concept of functional switchability of three-dimensional covalent organic framework (3D-COF) membranes through a simple solvent-influenced fragmentation method. This room-temperature interfacial synthesis provides free-standing 3D-COF membranes with distinct physicochemical properties from the same building monomers. Notably, the change of solvent from chloroform to ethyl acetate switches the membrane property from hydrophilic (water contact angle 60°) to hydrophobic (water contact angle 142°) nature. The hydrophobic 3D-COF membrane selectively passes oil molecules from an oil-water emulsion with a gravitational flux of 1536 L m-2 h-1 .
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