The Evolution of Metal–Organic Framework Membranes: From Laboratory Innovation to Industrial Implementations

Efficient separation of substances with similar sizes and properties is the key for novel membrane technologies development in the current chemical separation industries. Metal–organic framework (MOF) materials have great potential in membrane fabrication for separations, because of their precise pore sizes for size sieving and customizable binding sites for interaction screening. While extensive research has demonstrated their potential in laboratory scenarios, transforming these advancements to industrial applications remains challenging. This Review attempts to highlight the recent advances in MOF-based membranes from laboratory to industry. First, the design concepts and diverse strategies proposed for the fabrication of laboratory-scale MOF-based membranes are introduced. Then, the underlying separation mechanisms of the MOF-based membranes are discussed in detail. Additionally, various application potentials of MOF-based membranes are summarized. Finally, we propose perspectives for the challenges and future directions of MOF-based membranes to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial applications, paving the way for MOF-based membranes to become effective solutions in separation technology.