Recent Advances in Polymer of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIM) Membranes for Ion Separation Applications

Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) represent a novel class of microporous materials tailored for membrane separation. Initially explored predominantly for gas separation, they have subsequently found widespread utility in organic solvent nanofiltration. In recent years, their applicability has been further extended to ion separation. However, few comprehensive reviews have been dedicated to summarizing the advances of PIMs in this burgeoning field to date. This review provides a systematic overview of the recent progress in PIM membranes for ion separation. First, the structural features of PIMs employed in ion separation are summarized, with an emphasis on structure-performance correlations. Subsequently, their diverse applications in ion separation are elaborated in detail, encompassing ion resource recovery, water treatment, and electrochemical energy storage systems. Next, the current challenges facing the application of PIMs in ion separation are outlined, and finally, conclusions are provided. This review aims to provide insightful guidance for the development of high-performance PIM-based membranes in this rapidly evolving research area.