The design flexibility in the crystalline structure and surface wettability make the zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) an excellent platform for taskspecific applications. However, the key challenge lies in the precise modulation of transport channels, which still suffers from slow diffusion kinetics in nanopores and the loss of hydrophobicity during long-term operation. Here, a facile structural directing method to render conventional 3D polyhedrons to well-controlled ZIF nanoplates, and further to super-hydrophobic laminated material by an in situ phase transition strategy is reported. As exemplified in water transport devices, the integrated ZIFs laminate shows an exceptional anti-hydrolysis property and super-hydrophobic transport channels, which warrant remarkable structural stability at fully wet conditions for a time period of at least 3 months, even under acidic conditions and boiling water for 24 h. The simple transformation strategy paves the way for fabrication and regulation of coordinated structures where hydrophobic transport channels are required, and opens a new opportunity for the smart design of advanced structures for water treatment under harsh environments.
Rapid and highly efficient C 3 H 6 /C 3 H 8 separation over porous carbons is seriously hindered by the trade-off effect between adsorption capacity and selectivity. Here, we report a new type of porous carbon nanoplate (CNP) featuring an ultrathin thickness of around 8 nm and easily accessible ultramicropores (approximately 5.0 Å). The ultrathin nature of the material allows a high accessibility of gas molecules into the interior transport channels, and ultramicropores magnify the difference in diffusion behavior between C 3 H 6 and C 3 H 8 molecules, together ensuring a remarkable C 3 H 6 / C 3 H 8 separation performance. The CNPs show a high and steady C 3 H 6 capacity of up to 3.03 mmol g −1 at 298 K during consecutive dynamic cycles, which is superior to that of the state-of-the-art porous carbons and even porous crystalline materials. In particular, the CNPs show a rapid gas diffusivity, which is 1000 times higher than that of conventional activated carbons. This research provides a promising design principle for addressing the selectivity-capacity trade-off for other types of adsorbent materials.
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