As the global shift to clean energy accelerates, securing a stable lithium supply becomes critical, yet conventional extraction methods struggle with the “permeability–selectivity” trade-off when separating Li⁺ from chemically similar Mg 2+ in salt-lake brines. Now researchers from Tianjin University, National University of Singapore and Sichuan University—led by Prof. Zhongyi Jiang, Prof. Runnan Zhang and Prof. Sui Zhang—report a covalent-organic-framework (COF) scaffold membrane whose gate-lane architecture delivers record-high true Li⁺/Mg²⁺ selectivity together with high Li⁺ flux. The work offers a blueprint for next-generation ion-separation membranes that can harvest battery-grade lithium with unprecedented efficiency.
Why Gate-Lane COF Membranes Matter
Innovative Design and Features
Applications and Future Outlook
This comprehensive study demonstrates that hierarchical, charge-asymmetric COF membranes can turn the “ion-mixing penalty” into a separation bonus, breaking the traditional permeability–selectivity ceiling. It underscores the power of integrating precise chemistry, advanced spectroscopy and molecular simulations to design membranes for sustainable metal recovery. Stay tuned for more disruptive advances from Prof. Zhongyi Jiang, Prof. Runnan Zhang and Prof. Sui Zhang and their teams!
Nano-Micro Letters
News article
COF Scaffold Membrane with Gate‑Lane Nanostructure for Efficient Li+/Mg2+ Separation
2-Jan-2026