Self-Healing Hyper-Cross-Linked Metal–Organic Polyhedra (HCMOPs) Membranes with Antimicrobial Activity and Highly Selective Separation Properties

Fabrication
of hybrid membranes composed of porous materials embedded
in polymer matrices is a subject of topical interest. Herein, we introduce
a new class of hybrid membranes: hyper-cross-linked metal–organic
polyhedra (HCMOPs). These membranes are based upon soluble MOPs that
can serve as high-connectivity nodes in hyper-cross-linked polymer
networks. HCMOPs spontaneously form macro-scale, defect-free, freestanding
membranes, and, thanks to the covalent cross-linking of MOPs, the
resulting membranes possess multiple functionalities: strong water
permeability; self-healing ability; antimicrobial activity; and better
separation and mechanical performance than pristine polyimine membranes.
This study introduces a new concept for the design and fabrication
of multifunctional membranes and also broadens the applications of
MOPs.