Hydrophobic Polymer‐Coated and Uncoated ZIF‐67/Alumina Membrane for Volatile Organic Compound Degradation and CO 2 Adsorption Capture

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Authors: Vijayarohini Parasuraman, Yogesh Hari Krishnan, Woo Ram Lee, Syeda Mahnoor Zehra, Huyen Ngoc Ly, Su Jeong Sim, Tae Uk Han, Seungdo Kim
Cited by: 1
References: 59

Abstract

A major obstacle to the commercial application of metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) is that their powder form hinders scalable membrane fabrication and significantly compromises stability under humid conditions. To address these limitations, this study presents a novel, humidity‐resistant zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF‐67/alumina composite membrane (MMF) that combines visible‐light volatile organic compound (VOC) degradation and CO 2 adsorption in a single, scalable platform. Using an in situ self‐conversion strategy, ZIF‐67 crystals were directly anchored onto porous alumina, providing strong interfacial bonding, mechanical durability, and efficient mass transport. The MMF exhibited excellent toluene adsorption, as described by the Langmuir model, and achieved 96.4% photocatalytic degradation under visible light. Radical‐trapping and Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies confirmed superoxide anions ( . O 2 − ) as the dominant active species. The photocatalytic performance declined at 70–80% relative humidity (RH). To overcome this, ultrathin hydrophobic polysiloxane and perfluorinated polymer coatings minimized water uptake and maintained >92% photocatalytic activity, as supported by water vapor isotherms. Beyond VOC abatement, the MMFs demonstrated promising CO 2 adsorption predominantly by physisorption with higher uptake at low temperature and high pressure, attributed to enhanced pore filling and van der Waals interactions with nitrogen‐rich active sites. This work establishes a scalable strategy for MOF‐based membranes for simultaneous VOC abatement and CO 2 capture, offering a promising pathway for air‐purification technologies.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Metal-Organic Frameworks: Synthesis and Applications Covalent Organic Framework Applications Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Publication details

Journal / source
ChemSusChem
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
19
Issue
4
Pages
e202501998–e202501998
Publication date
18 February 2026
Language
EN