Graphite phase carbon nitride based membrane for selective permeation

Abstract

Precise control of interlayer spacing and functionality is crucial in two-dimensional material based membrane separation technology. Here we show anion intercalation in protonated graphite phase carbon nitride (GCN) that tunes the interlayer spacing and functions of GCN-based membranes for selective permeation in aqueous/organic solutions. Sulfate anion intercalation leads to a crystalline and amphipathic membrane with an accessible interlayer spacing at ~10.8 Å, which allows high solvent permeability and sieves out the solutes with sizes larger than the spacing. We further extend the concept and illustrate the example of GCN-based chiral membrane via incorporating (1R)-(-)-10-camphorsulfonic anion into protonated GCN layers. The membrane exhibits a molecular weight cutoff around 150 among various enantiomers and highly enantioselective permeation towards limonene racemate with an enantiomeric excess value of 89%. This work paves a feasible way to achieve water purification and chiral separation technologies using decorated laminated membranes.

Two-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride based membranes for separation

“…2d). The overall results demonstrated the precise sieving effect of Brønsted-acid-functionalized GCN, which is anticipated to offer new avenue to realize water purification technology using this functionalized 2D membrane [1].…”

“…2d). The overall results demonstrated the precise sieving effect of Brønsted-acid-functionalized GCN, which is anticipated to offer new avenue to realize water purification technology using this functionalized 2D membrane[1].On the other hand, chiral membranes for enantioselective separation featuring low energy consumption, high capacity and continuous operation, is of great importance in pharmacy and biomedical industries. To achieve highly efficient separation of enantiomers, the key issue lies in the precise control of pore size, structure and chiral sites.…”

“…In this regard, separation membranes consisting of twodimensional (2D) materials with abundant nano-pores, show great potential for water purification and seawater desalination, by virtue of their low transport resistance, high permeability and tailorable interlayer spacing (d). Recently, we reported graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) based 2D membrane for selective permeation at sub-nanometer scale [1]. The chemically inert GCN was functionalized via synergetic effect of protonation and anion intercalation using sulfuric acid (SA).…”

“…2h). The chiral decoration strategy extends the potential application range of 2D materials in biomedical fields, such as the separation of drug molecules with high added value [1].…”

Bioinspired nano-ordered liquid membrane for precise molecular separation

“…4,5,6,7 Membranes possess inherent attributes of high energy e ciency, good environmental safety, cost-effectiveness and small plant footprint, which exhibit grand potential for enormous separations in energy and environment elds. 8,9,10,11 However, the implementation of membranes for angstrom/sub-angstrom scale precise ion or molecule separations such as ion sieving, chiral recognition and ole n/para n separation still remains a major global challenge, 12,13,14 and the corresponding high-performance membranes are urgently needed. 15,16 Cellular membranes regulate the selective transport of sub-angstrom/angstrom scale ions or molecules with exceptional selectivity and superhigh transport rates, such as ions, water, gas and organic molecules for cell metabolism.…”