Randomly oriented covalent organic framework membrane for selective Li+ sieving from other ions
Abstract Certain biological channels exhibit remarkable selectivity, effectively distinguishing between competing cations. If artificial membranes could achieve similar precision in differentiating competing ions from Li+, it could advance sustainable technologies in lithium extraction. In this stud...
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| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59188-1 |
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| author | Shiwen Bao Zhaoyu Ma Lei Yu Qi Li Jiaxiang Xia Song Song Kunyan Sui Yongye Zhao Xueli Liu Jun Gao |
| author_facet | Shiwen Bao Zhaoyu Ma Lei Yu Qi Li Jiaxiang Xia Song Song Kunyan Sui Yongye Zhao Xueli Liu Jun Gao |
| author_sort | Shiwen Bao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Certain biological channels exhibit remarkable selectivity, effectively distinguishing between competing cations. If artificial membranes could achieve similar precision in differentiating competing ions from Li+, it could advance sustainable technologies in lithium extraction. In this study, we present a covalent organic framework (COF) membrane featuring a randomly oriented structure that enables selective separation of major competing ions from Li+. The random orientation results in narrow pores, which impart size-based selectivity among alkaline ions. Additionally, the COF incorporates sulfonic groups that preferentially bind to Na+ and K+, facilitating their transport while retaining Li+. These synergistic mechanisms endow the membrane with a selectivity beyond detection limit for K+ and Na+ over Li+. When driven by an electrical potential, the ion flux through the membrane is enhanced by over an order of magnitude. Notably, the membrane also permits the transport of Mg2+ and Ca2+ while still rejecting Li+, leveraging differences in their ion mobility. This work should advance the design and construction of biomimetic materials for the extraction of valuable species from seawater and other aqueous sources. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8243e2eaeffd4a6fa3636fac38c4dc86 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-8243e2eaeffd4a6fa3636fac38c4dc862025-08-20T02:20:06ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-04-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-59188-1Randomly oriented covalent organic framework membrane for selective Li+ sieving from other ionsShiwen Bao0Zhaoyu Ma1Lei Yu2Qi Li3Jiaxiang Xia4Song Song5Kunyan Sui6Yongye Zhao7Xueli Liu8Jun Gao9State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao UniversityKey Laboratory of Photoelectric Conversion and Utilization of Solar Energy, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao UniversityKey Laboratory of Photoelectric Conversion and Utilization of Solar Energy, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao UniversityState Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao UniversityState Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao UniversityKey Laboratory of Photoelectric Conversion and Utilization of Solar Energy, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao UniversityKey Laboratory of Photoelectric Conversion and Utilization of Solar Energy, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract Certain biological channels exhibit remarkable selectivity, effectively distinguishing between competing cations. If artificial membranes could achieve similar precision in differentiating competing ions from Li+, it could advance sustainable technologies in lithium extraction. In this study, we present a covalent organic framework (COF) membrane featuring a randomly oriented structure that enables selective separation of major competing ions from Li+. The random orientation results in narrow pores, which impart size-based selectivity among alkaline ions. Additionally, the COF incorporates sulfonic groups that preferentially bind to Na+ and K+, facilitating their transport while retaining Li+. These synergistic mechanisms endow the membrane with a selectivity beyond detection limit for K+ and Na+ over Li+. When driven by an electrical potential, the ion flux through the membrane is enhanced by over an order of magnitude. Notably, the membrane also permits the transport of Mg2+ and Ca2+ while still rejecting Li+, leveraging differences in their ion mobility. This work should advance the design and construction of biomimetic materials for the extraction of valuable species from seawater and other aqueous sources.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59188-1 |
| spellingShingle | Shiwen Bao Zhaoyu Ma Lei Yu Qi Li Jiaxiang Xia Song Song Kunyan Sui Yongye Zhao Xueli Liu Jun Gao Randomly oriented covalent organic framework membrane for selective Li+ sieving from other ions Nature Communications |
| title | Randomly oriented covalent organic framework membrane for selective Li+ sieving from other ions |
| title_full | Randomly oriented covalent organic framework membrane for selective Li+ sieving from other ions |
| title_fullStr | Randomly oriented covalent organic framework membrane for selective Li+ sieving from other ions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Randomly oriented covalent organic framework membrane for selective Li+ sieving from other ions |
| title_short | Randomly oriented covalent organic framework membrane for selective Li+ sieving from other ions |
| title_sort | randomly oriented covalent organic framework membrane for selective li sieving from other ions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59188-1 |
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