Sub-8 nm networked cage nanofilm with tunable nanofluidic channels for adaptive sieving

Si Hua Liu, Jun Hao Zhou, Chunrui Wu, Peng Zhang, Xingzhong Cao, Jian Ke Sun*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Biological cell membrane featuring smart mass-transport channels and sub-10 nm thickness was viewed as the benchmark inspiring the design of separation membranes; however, constructing highly connective and adaptive pore channels over large-area membranes less than 10 nm in thickness is still a huge challenge. Here, we report the design and fabrication of sub-8 nm networked cage nanofilms that comprise of tunable, responsive organic cage-based water channels via a free-interface-confined self-assembly and crosslinking strategy. These cage-bearing composite membranes display outstanding water permeability at the 10−5 cm2 s−1 scale, which is 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than that of traditional polymeric membranes. Furthermore, the channel microenvironments including hydrophilicity and steric hindrance can be manipulated by a simple anion exchange strategy. In particular, through ionically associating light-responsive anions to cage windows, such ‘smart’ membrane can even perform graded molecular sieving. The emergence of these networked cage-nanofilms provides an avenue for developing bio-inspired ultrathin membranes toward smart separation.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2478
JournalNature Communications
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

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