Polycrystalline MOF films and mixed-matrix structures are the two common configurations for MOF-containing thin films. Mixed-matrix form typically possesses good processability and mechanical property but is challenging to generate continuous MOF channels for gas permeation. Polycrystalline films with pure MOF components face difficulties in synthesis and handling and cannot be transferred to other functional substrates for further integration. To the best of our knowledge, no strategy has been reported to reconcile the drawbacks of both configurations. Here, for the first time we design a Janus structure to enable the flexibility and transferability of ultrathin hybrid MOF/Polymer film. Through rational confining of the reaction interface, a continuous micron-scale MOF can be rapidly and exclusively anchored on one side of a nano-scale polymer thin film without chemical pre-modification. This Janus hybrid film exhibits a buckling microstructure of Turing morphologies, which can evolve according to the diffusion-reaction mechanism and be predicted by the Gray-Scott model. The robustness of the high-content anchored MOF was ascribed to a symbiotic interface observed by microscopy. The buckling structure endowed the hybrid film with outstanding flexibility to withstand the dilatational strain. The transferability of the Janus hybrid film can be demonstrated by directly rolling it onto the surface of commercialized PVDF hollow fiber for filtration function.

Transferable Janus MOF/polymer hybrid thin films with tunable Turing morphologies

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