Sub-nm Pore Size Engineering in Metal–Phenolic Membranes

Abstract

Metal–organic membranes with tunable nanopores provide a versatile platform for energy-efficient, high-precision separations. However, dynamic pore size engineering in the subnanometer (sub-nm) domain is challenging due to restricted control over bonding chemistry and coordination structures. Herein, we report a kinetic assembly strategy based on the oxidation-mediated coordination (OMC) of metal–phenolic networks (MPNs) that regulates ligand–metal bonding chemistry and directs mesoscale organization to afford precise and dynamic sub-nm control over pore size. The engineered MPN membranes undergo reversible, pH-induced coordination transitions, achieving a pore size engineering range of 0.73..