Recent Advances in Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Framework Membranes for Desalination

Zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) have emerged as promising desalination membrane materials owing to their exceptional chemical and hydrothermal stability, tunable nanoporous architectures, and versatile surface functionality. This review summarizes recent advances in Zr-MOF membranes for desalination, focusing on representative systems such as UiO-66 and its derivatives, MOF-801, MOF-808, and PCN-224. It highlights how framework chemistry, pore architecture, defect engineering, and membrane configuration collectively govern water transport and ion selectivity. Fabrication strategies are systematically discussed, covering both pure Zr-MOF membranes and mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs). Desalination performance is evaluated across various separation processes, including pressure-driven filtration, forward osmosis, and pervaporation. Finally, we discuss the molecular-level sieving mechanisms and outline future research directions toward the development next-generation materials for sustainable water desalination.