Two-dimensional (2D) MXene-based lamellar membranes bearing interlayers of tunable hydrophilicity are promising for high-performance water purification. The current challenge lies in how to engineer the pore wall's surface properties in the subnano-confinement environment while ensuring its high selectivity. Herein, poly(ionic liquid)s, equipped with readily exchangeable counter anions, succeeded as a hydrophilicity modifier in addressing this issue. Lamellar membranes bearing nanochannels of tailorable hydrophilicity are constructed via assembly of poly(ionic liquid)-armored MXene nanosheets [1]. By shifting the interlayer galleries from being hydrophilic to more hydrophobic via simple anion exchange, the MXene membrane performs drastically better for both the permeance (by two-fold improvement) and rejection (ca. 99 %). This facile method opens up a new avenue for building 2D material-based membranes of enhancing molecular transport and sieving effect.

Poly(ionic liquid)-armored MXene membrane: Interlayer engineering for facilitated water transport

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