Self-driven degradation and protection against chemical warfare agent simulants via MOF-808 derived bipolar membrane interfaces

The efficient and benign detoxification of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) is of critical importance for public security. Conventional decontamination methods often suffer from drawbacks such as high alkali consumption, strong corrosiveness, and secondary pollution. Bipolar membranes (BPMs), which facilitate in-situ alkali generation under an electric field, offer a promising alternative for degrading CWA simulants. However, their practical application is limited by insufficient water dissociation efficiency and poor operational stability. To address these challenges, we developed a novel bipolar membrane (BPM3–6) by integrating a functionalized polymer matrix with a catalytic interlayer composed of metal–organic framework (MOF-808). The resulting membrane achieved highly efficient water dissociation (93.3% within 1 h) and rapid degradation of CWA simulants without external alkali addition. Operating at a low transmembrane voltage of 1.23 V, BPM3–6 demonstrated a short degradation half-life of 27.7 min for the simulant dimethyl 4-nitrophenylphosphate (DMNP)—significantly faster than its natural hydrolysis rate in aqueous solution. Moreover, the membrane retained outstanding performance over 20 consecutive cycles, with only a 6.5% decrease in degradation efficiency, highlighting its exceptional catalytic and structural durability. With its high efficiency, environmental compatibility, and self-driven alkali production capability, this MOF-enhanced BPM electrochemical technology represents a robust and sustainable strategy for CWA decontamination, offering a reliable safeguard for public security.