Self-healing hypercrosslinked metal–organic polyhedra (HCMOPs) membranes with antimicrobial activity and highly selective separation properties

Fabrication of hybrid membranes composed of porous materials embedded in polymer matrices is a subject of topical interest. Herein, we introduce a new class of hybrid membranes: hypercrosslinked metal-organic polyhedra (HCMOPs). These membranes are based upon soluble MOPs that can serve as high-connectivity nodes in hypercrosslinked polymer networks. HCMOPs spontaneously form macro-scale, defect-free, freestanding membranes and, thanks to the covalent cross-linking of MOPs, the resulting membranes possess multiple functionalities: strong water permeability; self-healing ability; antimicrobial activity; better separation and mechanical performance than pristine polyimine membranes. This study introduces a new concept for the design and fabrication of multi-functional membranes and also broadens the applications of MOPs