Progress reports of metal-phenolic network engineered membranes for water treatment

Metal-phenolic network (MPN) is a kind of supramolecular material formed by the complexation of metal ions and organic ligands, and is widely used due to its extensive adhesive properties and simple operation methods. At present, MPN has been successfully applied in the surface modification of separation membrane materials, but there is still a lack of comprehensive reviews of separation membranes constructed by MPN, including construction methods and different applications. This paper emphasizes the formation mechanism and characteristics of MPN and MPN-based engineering strategies for the fabrication of multifunctional MPN-engineered membranes. The application of MPN-engineered membranes in water treatment is mainly introduced, including separation (molecular sieving and oil–water separation), catalysis (degradation of organic pollutants), and adsorption (dye adsorption and heavy metal adsorption). Given the limitations of current MPN functional membranes, the prospects for developing ultra-thin and durable MPN-engineered functional membranes are presented. This review has reference significance for the fields of water treatment and other energy and environment-related applications.