Fabrication and Performance of Metal–Organic Framework Membranes
A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375). This special issue belongs to the section "Membrane Fabrication and Characterization".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 248
Special Issue Editor
Interests: membrane separation; MOF; COF; MMMs; 2D material
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as a versatile class of crystalline porous materials with tunable structures, high surface areas, and tailorable chemical functionalities. Over the past decade, MOF-based membranes have attracted growing attention for applications in gas separation, liquid purification, pervaporation, and emerging fields such as electrochemical energy systems. Despite remarkable progress, key challenges remain in scalable fabrication, defect control, structural stability, and integration into practical modules.
This Special Issue aims to bring together recent advances in the design, fabrication, characterization, and performance evaluation of MOF membranes. It will provide a platform for researchers to showcase fundamental insights, innovative processing strategies, and application-oriented studies that push the boundaries of MOF membrane science and technology.
Topics of Interest
We invite contributions that are in, but not limited to, the following areas:
- Membrane Fabrication Strategies
- In situ growth, seeded growth, interfacial synthesis, vapor-assisted methods.
- Mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) incorporating MOFs.
- Two-dimensional MOF nanosheet membranes.
- Novel scalable fabrication techniques (e.g., 3D printing, roll-to-roll processing).
- Performance Optimization and Mechanistic Insights
- Gas separation (CO2 capture, H2 purification, olefin/paraffin separations, etc.).
- Organic solvent nanofiltration and pervaporation.
- Water purification and desalination.
- Ion and proton transport in energy-related applications.
- In situ/operando characterization of transport and structural stability.
- Challenges and Opportunities
- Defect control, grain boundary engineering, and interfacial compatibility.
- Chemical, thermal, and mechanical stability of MOF membranes.
- Integration into hollow fiber, tubular, or flat-sheet modules.
- Techno-economic analyses, scalability, and industrial perspectives.
Manuscript Types
The Special Issue will welcome the following:
- Original research articles reporting significant experimental or computational advances.
- Reviews and perspectives summarizing state-of-the-art progress, challenges, and future research directions.
- Communications highlighting urgent breakthroughs in MOF membrane science.
Impact and Significance
This Special Issue will serve as a comprehensive collection of cutting-edge research, advancing both the fundamental understanding and technological development of MOF membranes. It will not only highlight recent innovations but also provide insights into overcoming the current bottlenecks that hinder large-scale deployment. Ultimately, it aims to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial applications in separation and purification technologies.
Dr. Yunchuan Pu
Guest Editor
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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
- membrane
- MOFs
- fabrication strategy
- transport mechanisms
- separation performance
- defect engineering
- interfacial compatibility
- 2D material
- ultrathin membrane
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.
