Fluorinated Covalent Organic Framework Membranes for High-Flux Nonpolar Organic Solvent Nanofiltration
Jiajie Shi1, Yang Liu1, Yongsheng Chen1, Zhenggong Wang（王正宫）1,2*,Jian Jin1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Interfacial Materials Science & College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University,Suzhou, China
2Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Materials & Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies,Soochow University, Suzhou, China
Adv. Funct. Mater.,2026, 36,e23813
Abstract:Membrane-based separation of nonpolar solvents is critically important for petroleum refining, chemical production, and food processing industries. Although membrane technology provides energy-saving advantages, conventional organic nanofiltration membranes suffer from inadequate separation performance in nonpolar systems, hindering their practical deployment. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) emerge as an ideal platform for this application due to their unique combination of chemical robustness, high porosity, and precisely adjustable pore structures. In this work, we present an innovative strategy that integrates trifluoromethyl-functionalized COFs with surfactant-assisted interfacial polymerization to achieve high-flux nonpolar organic solvent nanofiltration. The resulting COF membranes demonstrate remarkable separation capabilities, achieving an ultrahigh hexane permeance of 251.4 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 and a remarkable 96.2% rejection for lecithin in hexane solutions, surpassing all previously reported OSN membranes. This innovative strategy not only addresses current limitations in nonpolar solvent separation but also establishes a new paradigm for developing high-performance separation membranes, with significant potential for industrial applications.
Article information: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202523813