Nanoconfined MXene-MOF Nanolaminate Film for Molecular Removal/Collection and Multiple Sieving

Balancing the trade-off between permeability and selectivity while realizing multiple sieving from complex matrices remains as bottlenecks for membrane-based separation. Here, a unique nanolaminate film of transition metal carbide (MXene) nanosheets intercalated by metal–organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles was developed. The intercalation of MOFs modulated the interlayer spacing and created nanochannels between MXene nanosheets, promoting a fast water permeance of 231 L m–2 h–1 bar–1. The nanochannel endowed a 10-fold lengthened diffusion path and the nanoconfinement effect to enhance the collision probability, establishing an adsorption model with a separation performance above 99% to chemicals and nanoparticles. In addition to the remained rejection function of nanosheets, the film integrated dual separation mechanisms of both size exclusion and selective adsorption, enabling a rapid and selective liquid phase separation paradigm that performs simultaneous multiple chemicals and nanoparticles sieving. The unique MXenes-MOF nanolaminate film and multiple sieving concepts are expected to pave a promising way toward highly efficient membranes and additional water treatment applications.