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Near-frictionless ion transport within triazine framework membranes

Author

Listed:
  • Peipei Zuo

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Chunchun Ye

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Zhongren Jiao

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Jian Luo

    (Utah State University, Chemistry and Biochemistry)

  • Junkai Fang

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Ulrich S. Schubert

    (Friedrich Schiller University Jena
    Friedrich Schiller University Jena)

  • Neil B. McKeown

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • T. Leo Liu

    (Utah State University, Chemistry and Biochemistry)

  • Zhengjin Yang

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Tongwen Xu

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

Abstract

The enhancement of separation processes and electrochemical technologies such as water electrolysers1,2, fuel cells3,4, redox flow batteries5,6 and ion-capture electrodialysis7 depends on the development of low-resistance and high-selectivity ion-transport membranes. The transport of ions through these membranes depends on the overall energy barriers imposed by the collective interplay of pore architecture and pore–analyte interaction8,9. However, it remains challenging to design efficient, scaleable and low-cost selective ion-transport membranes that provide ion channels for low-energy-barrier transport. Here we pursue a strategy that allows the diffusion limit of ions in water to be approached for large-area, free-standing, synthetic membranes using covalently bonded polymer frameworks with rigidity-confined ion channels. The near-frictionless ion flow is synergistically fulfilled by robust micropore confinement and multi-interaction between ion and membrane, which afford, for instance, a Na+ diffusion coefficient of 1.18 × 10−9 m2 s–1, close to the value in pure water at infinite dilution, and an area-specific membrane resistance as low as 0.17 Ω cm2. We demonstrate highly efficient membranes in rapidly charging aqueous organic redox flow batteries that deliver both high energy efficiency and high-capacity utilization at extremely high current densities (up to 500 mA cm–2), and also that avoid crossover-induced capacity decay. This membrane design concept may be broadly applicable to membranes for a wide range of electrochemical devices and for precise molecular separation.

Suggested Citation

  • Peipei Zuo & Chunchun Ye & Zhongren Jiao & Jian Luo & Junkai Fang & Ulrich S. Schubert & Neil B. McKeown & T. Leo Liu & Zhengjin Yang & Tongwen Xu, 2023. "Near-frictionless ion transport within triazine framework membranes," Nature, Nature, vol. 617(7960), pages 299-305, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:617:y:2023:i:7960:d:10.1038_s41586-023-05888-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05888-x
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mei-Ling Liu & Yu Chen & Chuan Hu & Chun-Xu Zhang & Zheng-Jun Fu & Zhijun Xu & Young Moo Lee & Shi-Peng Sun, 2024. "Microporous membrane with ionized sub-nanochannels enabling highly selective monovalent and divalent anion separation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Ri-Jian Mo & Shuang Chen & Li-Qiu Huang & Xin-Lei Ding & Saima Rafique & Xing-Hua Xia & Zhong-Qiu Li, 2024. "Regulating ion affinity and dehydration of metal-organic framework sub-nanochannels for high-precision ion separation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Bingbing Yuan & Yuhang Zhang & Pengfei Qi & Dongxiao Yang & Ping Hu & Siheng Zhao & Kaili Zhang & Xiaozhuan Zhang & Meng You & Jiabao Cui & Juhui Jiang & Xiangdong Lou & Q. Jason Niu, 2024. "Self-assembled dendrimer polyamide nanofilms with enhanced effective pore area for ion separation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Qinglu Liu & Tang Tang & Ziyu Tian & Shiwen Ding & Linqin Wang & Dexin Chen & Zhiwei Wang & Wentao Zheng & Husileng Lee & Xingyu Lu & Xiaohe Miao & Lin Liu & Licheng Sun, 2024. "A high-performance watermelon skin ion-solvating membrane for electrochemical CO2 reduction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    5. Yue Wang & Yixiao Hu & Jian-Ping Guo & Jun Gao & Bo Song & Lei Jiang, 2024. "A physical derivation of high-flux ion transport in biological channel via quantum ion coherence," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    6. Hai Liu & Xinxi Huang & Yang Wang & Baian Kuang & Wanbin Li, 2024. "Nanowire-assisted electrochemical perforation of graphene oxide nanosheets for molecular separation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

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