Molecular manipulation of polyamide nanostructures reconciles the permeance-selectivity threshold for precise ion separation

Zhenxiang Pan, Yalong Lei, Tiange Yan, Fuxin Zheng, Yu Liao, Jiang Zhan, Tong Zhang, Lu Shao () and Gang Han ()
Additional contact information
Zhenxiang Pan: Nankai University
Yalong Lei: Nankai University
Tiange Yan: Nankai University
Fuxin Zheng: Nankai University
Yu Liao: Nankai University
Jiang Zhan: Nankai University
Tong Zhang: Nankai University
Lu Shao: Harbin Institute of Technology
Gang Han: Nankai University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Membrane nanofiltration (NF) has emerged as a prominent technology for efficient separations of ions, but state-of-the-art polyamide (PA) NF membranes are constrained by a pernicious tradeoff between water permeance and selectivity. This work conceives a versatile molecular engineering strategy to simultaneously improve water permeance and co-cation selectivity through molecular construction of cationic triazolyl heterocyclic polyamide (CTHP) nanofilms via scalable interfacial polymerization. Experimental data and molecular simulations reveal that the CTHP structures precisely regulate the subnanometer pore architecture and binding affinity with water and ions, affording advanced size-sieving and Donnan exclusion while facilitating water partitioning and transport. The exemplified PA membrane exhibits ultrahigh divalent cation rejections of over 99% with a 9-fold increase in monovalent/divalent cation sieving selectivity relative to the pristine benchmark, exceptional water permeance, and good fouling resistance. The implemented molecular engineering strategy holds broad prospects for the rational design of high-performance polymeric membranes for sustainable and precision separations.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62376-8 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62376-8

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62376-8

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().