Two-dimensional (2D) materials can assemble into filtration membranes with unique nanofluidic transport phenomena. Most representatives however tend to swell or disintegrate in a hydrated state, making ionic or molecular sieving a tough challenge. Here we report that the chemically robust 2D carbon nitride can be activated using aluminum polycations as pillars to modulate the interlayer spacing of the conjugated framework, the noncovalent interaction concomitantly affords a well-interlinked lamellar structure, to be carefully distinguished from random stacking patterns in conventional carbon nitride membranes. The conformally packed membrane is characterized by adaptive subnanochannel ( &lt; 6 Å) and structure integrity to allow excellent swelling resistance, and breaks permeability-selectivity trade-off limit in forward osmosis, achieving high salt rejection and water flux, along with tunable permeation behavior in acidic and alkaline environments. These findings position carbon nitride a rising building block to functionally expand the 2D membrane library for applications in water desalination and purification.

Two-dimensional carbon nitride membranes for precise separation

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