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Unraveling the Interfacial Structure–Performance Correlation of Flexible Metal–Organic Framework Membranes on Polymeric Substrates

Journal Article · · ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Pure metal–organic framework (MOF) layers deposited on porous supports are important candidates for molecular sieving membranes, but their performance usually deviates from theoretical estimations. Here, we combine stepwise scanning electron microscopy imaging, time-resolved synchrotron X-ray scattering, terahertz infrared spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculation to investigate the ZIF-8 membrane formation on two types (polydopamine and TiO2) of functionalized porous supports. Though molecular sieving of ZIF-8 membranes for smaller gases (He, H2, and CO2) can be achieved with both types of functionalized supports, we unravel that the strong interaction between MOF and polydopamine can disrupt the formation of “perfect” MOF crystals at the interface, leading to a “contracted” MOF structure with partially uncoordinated imidazolate ligands. This further affects the low-frequency dynamical parameters of the framework and inhibits the effective seeded growth. Eventually, it leads to an unexpected loss of selectivity for the bulkier gases (N2 and CH4) for ZIF-8 on polydopamine-functionalized supports. This work links the dynamical aspects of MOFs with their gas transport behavior and highlights the importance of regulating the interfacial weak forces to preserve the ideal molecular sieving efficiency of MOF membranes, which a
Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
Sponsoring Organization:
Australian Research Council (ARC); China Scholarship Council (CSC); Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); UNSW Scientia Fellowship
OSTI ID:
1499805
Journal Information:
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Journal Name: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 11; ISSN 1944-8244
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH

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Templated growth of vertically aligned 2D metal–organic framework nanosheets journal January 2019

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