Polycrystalline Metal-Organic Framework Membranes for Separation of Light Hydrocarbons

Due to facile designability and versatile nanospace, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been considered as promising membrane materials. Compared to the mixed matrix membranes that incorporated with MOF particles, the polycrystalline MOF membranes demonstrates significant advantages in maximum utilizing the crystalline nanospace, and thus yielding a fruitful of achievements in the last twenty years. Although some reviews have summarized the development of MOF-based membranes, the theoretical framework for oriented design and preparation of polycrystalline MOF membranes for highly efficient separation of light hydrocarbons remains in infancy. Herein, in this review, the fabrication strategies of polycrystalline MOF membranes and the corresponding performance in the separation of light hydrocarbons were classified and summarized. Particularly, the MOF membranes with global and local dynamics have been proposed as an interesting topic promoted performance.