https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa48864/Download/0048864-07032019141310.pdf

Reverse osmosis desalination: A state-of-the-art review

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been recognized as compelling platforms for the development of miscellaneous applications because of their structural diversity and functional tunability. Here, we propose that the electrocatalytic properties could be well modified by incorporating missing linkers into the MOF. Theoretical calculations suggest the electronic structure of MOFs can be tuned by introducing missing linkers, which improves oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance of the MOF. Inspired by these aspects, we introduced various missing linkers into a layered-pillared MOF Co2(OH)2(C8H4O4) (termed as CoBDC) to prepare missing-linker MOFs. Transmission electron microscope and synchrotron X-ray measurements confirmed that the missing linkers in the MOF could be introduced and well controlled by our strategy. The self-supported MOF nanoarrays with missing linkers of carboxyferrocene exhibit excellent OER performance with ultralow overpotential of 241 mV at 100 mA cm−2. This work opens a new prospect to develop efficient MOF-based electrocatalysts by introducing missing linkers. While water splitting electrocatalysis provides a means to store electrical energy as fuel, the water oxidation catalysts typically show low performances. Here, authors employ metal-organic frameworks with missing-linkers as highly active oxygen evolution electrocatalysts.

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Missing-linker metal-organic frameworks for oxygen evolution reaction.

CORRIGENDUM: Drosophila Kdm4 demethylases in histone H3 lysine 9 demethylation and ecdysteroid signalling

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Membrane fouling in desalination and its mitigation strategies

Membrane fouling, which arises from the nonspecific interaction between the membrane surface and foulants, significantly impedes the efficient application of membrane technology. Antifouling and antimicrobial materials are important classes of functional materials for the surface modification of reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes. Applications of various organic and inorganic materials having different characteristics such as size, surface charge, hydrophilicity, functionality and biocidal activity, provide protective/sacrificial layers to the membrane surface against different foulants and microorganisms. This review summarizes the properties and applications of organic and inorganic materials, antifouling mechanisms, and surface modification of pre-formed membranes. Materials such as zwitterionic polymers, neutral polymers, polyelectrolytes, amphiphilic polymers, quaternary ammonium polymers, biopolymers, hydrophilic polymers, polydopamine, inorganic salts, and nanomaterials have shown great potential in reducing foulant adhesion and/or proliferative microbial growth on membrane surfaces.

Antifouling, fouling release and antimicrobial materials for surface modification of reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes

A review of reverse osmosis membrane fouling and control strategies

This review highlights advancements made in anion exchange membrane (AEM) head groups, polymer structures and membrane synthesis methods. Limitations of current analytical techniques for characterizing AEMs are also discussed. AEM research is primarily driven by the need to develop suitable AEMs for the high-pH and high-temperature environments in anion exchange membrane fuel cells and anion exchange membrane water electrolysis applications. AEM head groups can be broadly classified as nitrogen based (e.g. quaternary ammonium), nitrogen free (e.g. phosphonium) and metal cations (e.g. ruthenium). Metal cation head groups show great promise for AEM due to their high stability and high valency. Through “rational polymer architecture”, it is possible to synthesize AEMs with ion channels and improved chemical stability. Heterogeneous membranes using porous supports or inorganic nanoparticles show great promise due to the ability to tune membrane characteristics based on the ratio of polymer to porous support or nanoparticles. Future research should investigate consolidating advancements in AEM head groups with an optimized polymer structure in heterogeneous membranes to bring together the valuable characteristics gained from using head groups with improved chemical stability, with the benefits of a polymer structure with ion channels and improved membrane properties from using a porous support or nanoparticles.

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A review of the synthesis and characterization of anion exchange membranes

Efficient chiral separation remains a very challenging task due to the identical physical and chemical properties of the enantiomers of a molecule. Enantiomers only behave differently from each other in the presence of other chiral species. Homochiral metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have received much attention for their promising enantioseparation properties. However, there are still challenges to overcome in this field such as high enantiomeric separation. Structural defects play an important role in the properties of MOFs and can significantly change the pore architecture. In this work, we introduced missing linker defects into a homochiral metal–organic framework [Zn2(bdc)(l-lac)(dmf)] (ZnBLD; bdc = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, l-lac = l-lactic acid, dmf = N,N′-dimethylformamide) and observed an increase in enantiomeric excess for 1-phenylethanol of 35% with the defective frameworks. We adjusted the concentration of monocarboxylic acid ligand l-lactic acid by varying the ratio of Zn2+ to ligand from ...

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Missing Linker Defects in a Homochiral Metal-Organic Framework: Tuning the Chiral Separation Capacity.

Polymeric membranes are widely used in gas separations, liquid separations, and other processes such as fuel cells. However, methods and processes for manufacturing these membranes are usually harmful to the environment and/or human health. Although many new materials and synthesis methods are reported every year, green synthesis only makes up a small proportion. Therefore, more efforts are necessary to raise researchers’ awareness to green synthesis of membranes. One popular strategy to greenly synthesize membranes is to avoid toxic organic solvents or use water to replace organic solvents completely. However, many reported green methods could only realize green synthesis partly. The ultimate goal is to synthesize membranes in a completely eco-friendly way, where raw materials, membrane preparation, post-treatment, and other involved procedures are all ‘green’.

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Shanxue Jiang

Papers

A review of reverse osmosis membrane fouling and control strategies

A review of the synthesis and characterization of anion exchange membranes

Missing Linker Defects in a Homochiral Metal-Organic Framework: Tuning the Chiral Separation Capacity.

Green synthesis of polymeric membranes: Recent advances and future prospects

Long-term stable metal organic framework (MOF) based mixed matrix membranes for ultrafiltration