Metal-organic framework-based CO2 capture: From precise material design to high-efficiency membranes

A low-carbon economy calls for CO2 capture technologies. Membrane separations represent an energy-efficient and environment-friendly process compared with distillations and solvent absorptions. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as a novel type of porous materials, are being generated at a rapid and growing pace, which provide more opportunities for high-efficiency CO2 capture. In this review, we illustrate a conceptional framework from material design and membrane separation application for CO2 capture, and emphasize two importance themes, namely (i) design and modification of CO2-philic MOF materials that targets secondary building units, pore structure, topology and hybridization and (ii) construction of crack-free membranes through chemical epitaxy growth of active building blocks, interfacial assembly, ultrathin two-dimensional nanosheet assembly and mixed-matrix integration strategies, which would give rise to the most promising membrane performances for CO2 capture, and be expected to overcome the bottleneck of permeability-selectivity limitations.