Current Studies in Functionalized Ion Separation Membrane Materials
A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375). This special issue belongs to the section "Membrane Fabrication and Characterization".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 29
Special Issue Editors
Interests: membrane separation; porous material; ion separation; organic liquid separation
Interests: membrane separation; forward osmosis; membrane fouling mechanism; membrane modification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: nanofiltration; reverse osmosis; polyamide membrane; interfacial polymerization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Ion separation has gained significant attention due to its critical roles in diverse fields such as ion resource extraction, environmental remediation, and energy storage. Despite considerable efforts to enhance membrane separation performance, there remains a strong demand for membranes that offer higher ion permeation rates and improved selectivity, as well as robust chemical stability, excellent fouling resistance, and long-term durability. The development of advanced membrane materials with tailored functionalities is therefore essential to achieve efficient and sustainable ion separation. This Special Issue is dedicated to showcasing the latest fundamental and technological advances in the rational design, synthesis, and application of functionalized membrane materials for ion separation. It will cover various membrane processes including nanofiltration (NF), forward osmosis (FO), electrodialysis (ED), diffusion dialysis (DD), and other emerging membrane-based separation technologies.
Authors are invited to contribute original research articles, review articles, and short communications to this Special Issue. Topics for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) novel membrane materials for ion separation, such as two-dimensional (2D) materials, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), and covalent organic frameworks (COFs); (2) membrane-functionalizing strategies to enhance ion separation performance, for instance, through the introduction of ion recognition sites or surface modifications; (3) applications in ion resource recovery, including acid/alkali regeneration and lithium-ion extraction from various sources; (4) uses in water and wastewater treatment, such as desalination, heavy metal removal, and dye/ion separation; and (5) development of functional separators with selective ion permeability for battery systems, including lithium–sulfur, sodium–sulfur, and organic redox flow batteries.
Dr. Cuijing Liu
Dr. Miaolu He
Dr. Mengyang Hu
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Membranes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- advanced membrane materials
- membrane functionalization
- ion separation
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
