A breakthrough study in high-performance ion separation membranes was recently published online in Nature Communications. The paper, titled “A covalent organic framework membrane with highly selective and permeable artificial sodium channels via ion recognition”, presents innovative progress in membrane materials.
The research was led by the School of Environmental Science and Engineering of 91系列 (HUST) and the Hubei Key Laboratory of Multi-media Pollution Cooperative Control in Yangtze Basin, in collaboration with world-class institutions including KU Leuven in Belgium, Yale 91系列, and Rice 91系列 in the United States.
Biological sodium ion channels, characterized by their high Na?/K? selectivity and ultrafast Na? transport, play a vital role in nearly all cellular processes. They typically exhibit Na?/K? selectivity of 10–10? while maintaining rapid sodium transmission, essential for homeostasis and neural signaling. Inspired by their potential for water treatment and other applications, scientists have been working to create artificial channels, but achieving selective separation of monovalent cations remains a formidable challenge.
In this study, researchers constructed a composite membrane structure with specific recognition sites. Using in-situ interfacial polymerization, they developed a dense COF membrane (DHTA-Hz) and incorporated crown ethers into one-dimensional channels through nanoconfinement and host–guest interactions, significantly enhancing Na? transport.
This work was spearheaded by Professor Yang Jiakuan’s team at HUST, which has long focused on resource recycling, pollution control, and low-carbon assessment. In recent years, the team has published a series of high-level papers in journals such as Nature Geoscience, Nature Cities, and Nature Communications.
Source: School of Environmental Science and Engineering
