Citation: Hao Liu, Pin Zhao, Yao Jiang, Subo Xu, Weilong Song, Xinhua Wang. Influence of the interlayer properties on the thin-film composite membrane performance based on UiO-66 and its derivatives[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(5): 111862. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111862 shu

Influence of the interlayer properties on the thin-film composite membrane performance based on UiO-66 and its derivatives

Hao Liu ^a ,
Pin Zhao ^{a, *,} ,
Yao Jiang ^a ,
Subo Xu ^a ,
Weilong Song ^a ,
Xinhua Wang ^{a, b, *,}

a.
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
b.
Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China

pinzhao@jiangnan.edu.cn

xhwang@jiangnan.edu.cn

Received Date: 7 April 2025
Revised Date: 3 August 2025
Accepted Date: 18 September 2025
Available Online: 18 September 2025

Figures(5)

To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of interlayers on interfacial polymerization (IP) dynamics and thin-film composite (TFC) membrane performance, UiO-66 and its derivatives with tailored properties were synthesized and employed as interlayers to fabricate TFC membranes. The influence of interlayer's charge and porosity on IP reaction was systematically investigated based on the forward osmosis (FO) system. Results showed that the introduction of the UiO-66 interlayer promoted the diffusion of the reactive monomer during the initial stage of the IP reaction, resulting in a wrinkled and thin polyamide (PA) layer. Compared to the pristine TFC membrane, the UiO-66–0% interlayered TFC membrane exhibited 2.7-fold enhanced water permeability (21.67 L m⁻² h⁻¹ (LMH)) but reduced salt rejection (3.69 g m⁻² h⁻¹ (gMH)). Incorporation of amino-functionalized UiO-66–30% with enhanced positive charge induced a double-layer PA structure, reducing water flux to 15.13 LMH. Engineering hierarchically porous UiO-66 (HP-UiO-66–30%) achieved balanced performance, maintaining high flux (21.04 LMH) while significantly improving rejection (1.39 gMH). This study demonstrates that strategic modulation of nanomaterial functionality and porosity enables precise PA layer engineering for high-performance TFC membranes with simultaneously enhanced permeability and selectivity.
- Thin-film composite membrane,
- Interlayer,
- Charge,
- Porosity,
- UiO-66
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