Large‐Area Layered Membranes with Precisely Controlled Nano‐Confined Channels

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2024-10, Vol.63 (40), p.e202410441-n/a
• Main Authors: Zhou, Can, Zhao, Chuangqi, Nie, Zhidong, Zhou, Tianxu, Kong, Shengwen, Sun, Yingzhi, Qian, Cheng, Zhao, Tianyi, Liu, Mingjie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Channels; Flow stability; Graphene; interlayer spacing; Interlayers; Membranes; Metal ions; nano-confined channels; Order parameters; superspreading; Two dimensional flow; Two dimensional materials
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202410441

Two‐dimensional (2D) nanosheets‐based membranes, which have controlled 2D nano‐confined channels, are highly desirable for molecular/ionic sieving and confined reactions. However, it is still difficult to develop an efficient method to prepare large‐area membranes with high stability, high orientation, and accurately adjustable interlayer spacing. Here, we present a strategy to produce metal ion cross‐linked membranes with precisely controlled 2D nano‐confined channels and high stability in different solutions using superspreading shear‐flow‐induced assembly strategy. For example, membranes based on graphene oxide (GO) exhibit interlayer spacing ranging from 8.0±0.1 Å to 10.3±0.2 Å, with a precision of down to 1 Å. At the same time, the value of the orientation order parameter (f) of GO membranes is up to 0.95 and GO membranes exhibit superb stability in different solutions. The strategy we present, which can be generalized to the preparation of 2D nano‐confined channels based on a variety of 2D materials, will expand the application scope and provide better performances of membranes. Superspreading shear‐flow induces alignment of nanosheets, followed by rapid cross‐linking of nanosheets with metal ions to form precisely controlled nano‐confined channels. Due to the cross‐linking between the metal ions and the nanosheets, the nano‐confined channels exhibit excellent stability in different solutions and ionic sieving performance.