Solvent-free route for metal-organic framework membranes growth aiming for efficient gas separation

Industrial applications of membranes based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are challenged by their complex fabrication procedures and poor processability, despite their huge potential for efficient gas separation. Especially, the consumption of a large amount of toxic, expensive solvent, and harsh operation by conventional solvothermal growth also make it less attractive for industrial production. Herein, a solvent-free method is proposed to fabricate continuous defect-free MOF membranes on commercial porous stainless steel substrates, where the metal precursors are electrodeposited on the support followed by a heat treatment with the ligand powder via solid-state reaction without using any solvent. This strategy is proven to be applicable for various MOF membranes and it is expected to be a facile, cheap, and environmental friendly way for future large-scale production. (c) 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 65: 712-722, 2019