A Review of Nanostructured Ion-Exchange Membranes

Ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) with tunable nanostructures possess great potential for energy-efficient use in various applications such as electrodialysis, fuel cells, secondary batteries, and so on. Insight into the relationship between the morphology of the membrane nanostructures and the ions permeation is key to the realistic design and advancement of nanostructured IEMs. Here, recent progress on broadly divided four types of IEMs, based on solid-state nanostructures, self-assembled nanochannels, fillers-integrated nanostructures, and artificial surface structures, are highlighted. For each type, fabrication of the nanostructured membranes and their influence on physical and ion transport properties are summarized. Additionally, the potential perspective of the nanostructured IEMs ' engineering and application are discussed in this review.

Automated summary

This article highlights the potential of ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) with tunable nanostructures for energy-efficient applications such as electrodialysis and fuel cells. It discusses the relationship between membrane nanostructures and ions permeation, summarizes the fabrication methods of nanostructured membranes and their influence on physical and ion transport properties, and explores the potential engineering and application prospects of nanostructured IEMs.