Dual-interface regulation of two-dimensional ZIF-based composite membranes for efficient and stable pervaporation...

Highly permselective and stable membranes are crucial to promoting the large-scale application of pervaporation (PV) in desalination. Despite the metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-polymer composite membranes have demonstrated application potential, their desalination performance and structural stability remain constrained by poor MOF-polymer interfacial compatibility, as well as weak interfacial interaction between the separation layer and support layer. Here, we propose a dual-interface regulation strategy to construct a defect-free and stable two-dimensional (2D) ZIF-based composite membrane for high-performance PV desalination. Amino-functionalized 2D ZIF fillers with excellent dispersibility and a third component that covalently coordinates with both filler and polymer synergistically constructed a dense separation layer, effectively enhanced permeability and selectivity. Mussel-inspired polydopamine interlayer regulated the surface wettability of support layer and enhances its interfacial adhesion with separation layer to further enhance the permeability and structural stability. The composite membrane exhibited high water flux of 32.6 kg m^-2 h^-1 with almost complete salt rejection, demonstrating superior long-term operational stability and anti-fouling performance. Furthermore, the composite membranes also demonstrated application feasibility for natural seawater and industrial high-salinity wastewater, capable of continuously and simultaneously removing multiple ions from natural seawater. This work is expected to provide insights for further development of PV membranes with higher permeability and stability, and lay the foundation for expanding PV technology for sustainable industrial-scale desalination.