Gas Separation via Hybrid Metal–Organic Framework/Polymer Membranes

Metal–organic framework (MOF)/polymer hybrid membranes are promising for energy-efficient gas separations. The combination of a polymer matrix and MOF filler exploits the ease of processability of polymers and exceptional transport properties of MOFs for improved gas-separation performance. The scope of gas separations utilizing MOF/polymer hybrid membranes is broad due to the tunability of the MOF fillers and polymers. Identifying suitable MOF fillers for specific gas mixtures is critical to their ultimate application. Translating hybrid membranes to defect-free ultrathin hollow fibers is critical for their industrial-scale applications. Summary of recent exploration and future potential MOF fillers based on size exclusion and favored adsorption is presented with facilitated transport properties. Targeted development of more versatile MOF fillers with molecular sieving effects, open metal sites, or other functional groups is highly needed for MOF/polymer hybrid membranes. Hybrid membranes assembled from a polymeric matrix and an inorganic filler are considered one of the most promising membranes for energy-efficient gas separations due to their high performance and low-cost fabrication. Rigid polymer matrices often exhibit lasting porosity and consequently have been gradually employed to fabricate separation membranes of high permeance. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a key class of fillers that have fueled the exploration of advanced hybrid-membrane technologies for gas separation. In this short review, an evolutional pathway for more advanced MOF/polymer hybrid-membrane morphologies and their modules are highlighted along with state-of-the-art applications. Here, we address key issues such as selecting the appropriate MOF filler and polymer matrix, improving filler/matrix compatibility within hybrid membranes, and, most importantly, how to scale up MOF/polymer hybrid membranes efficiently and economically for large-scale industrial applications. Hybrid membranes assembled from a polymeric matrix and an inorganic filler are considered one of the most promising membranes for energy-efficient gas separations due to their high performance and low-cost fabrication. Rigid polymer matrices often exhibit lasting porosity and consequently have been gradually employed to fabricate separation membranes of high permeance. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a key class of fillers that have fueled the exploration of advanced hybrid-membrane technologies for gas separation. In this short review, an evolutional pathway for more advanced MOF/polymer hybrid-membrane morphologies and their modules are highlighted along with state-of-the-art applications. Here, we address key issues such as selecting the appropriate MOF filler and polymer matrix, improving filler/matrix compatibility within hybrid membranes, and, most importantly, how to scale up MOF/polymer hybrid membranes efficiently and economically for large-scale industrial applications.