(383s) Unleashing the Hyperloop: Magnetic Alignment of Lanthanide-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Gas Separation

In the realm of chemical engineering and environmental science, the efficient separation of chemical compounds using less energy-intensive methods is a pivotal challenge aligned with worldwide sustainability goals. The introduction of mixed-matrix membranes, incorporating metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) into polymer matrices, has emerged as a promising strategy to reduce energy consumption. However, the randomly oriented MOFs within these membranes have restricted the full exploitation of their inherent anisotropic gas transport properties. Here we show that the magnetic alignment of lanthanide-based MOF crystals in the membrane matrix leads to an unprecedented increase in both selectivity and permeability for the separation of various mixed gases. This methodology starkly contrasts with previous efforts by leveraging the anisotropic diffusion kinetics of MOFs, which were largely overlooked in past designs, resulting in superior gas separation performance. Such a paradigm shift not only addresses the current limitations imposed by conventional gas separation methods but also extends the potential applications to catalysis, water purification, and separators of all-solid-state batteries, thereby proving the viability of multifunctional membrane systems.