Superwetting Oil/Water Separation Membrane Constructed from In Situ Assembled Metal–Phenolic Networks and Metal–Organic Frameworks

• Published in: ACS applied materials & interfaces 2020-02, Vol.12 (8), p.10000-10008
• Main Authors: Wang, Ruoxi, Zhao, Xueting, Jia, Ning, Cheng, Lijuan, Liu, Lifen, Gao, Congjie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1944-8244; 1944-8252
• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b22080

Superwetting membranes with opposite wettability to oil and water have drawn intense attention in recent years for oil/water separation. Superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic membranes have shown unique advantages in the efficient treatment of oily wastewater containing oil-in-water emulsions. Facile interfacial engineering and microstructural design of the hierarchical architectures and the hydrophilic chemistry is of significance but still challenging. In this study, a hydrophilic hierarchical hybrid layer derived from metal–phenolic network (MPN)/metal–organic framework (MOF) synergy is constructed on the membrane surface via a proposed coordination-directed alternating assembly strategy. The assembly of MPN multilayers provides a hydrophilic chemical basis, and the assembly of MOF nanocrystals provides a hierarchical structural basis. Notably, the coordination interfacial interaction enables the formation of well-defined hydrophilic hierarchical architectures. The obtained membrane is thus endowed with robust superhydrophilicity, underwater superoleophobicity, and anti-oil-adhesion capability, which make it capable of highly efficient oil–water separation with high water permeance (above 6300 L/m2 h), high oil rejection (above 99.4%), and recyclable antifouling property. The high performance of the developed superwetting membrane makes it a competitive candidate for oil/water separation. Additionally, the demonstrated MPN/MOF assembly strategy may offer new prospects for the facile and versatile design of other superwetting materials.