Conjugated microporous polymer membranes for chemical separations

Abstract

• Conjugated microporous polymer (CMP) membranes for chemical separations are reviewed. • The historical development of CMPs is discussed. • Fabrication routes of CMP membranes are critically compared and reviewed. • Applications of CMP membranes are comprehensively summarized. • The inference on the future prospects of CMPs as membranes is provided. Conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) are a unique class of porous organic materials, which are constructed with π-conjugation structures leading to intrinsic micropores. The CMPs properties such as high surface area, intrinsic and rich micropores, interlocking and rigid structure, extensive π-conjugation and tunable band-gap, chemical and thermal stability, together with tailored functionalities, contribute to its abundant potential for application in fields such as photocatalysis, optoelectronics, energy storage, and chemical sensors. Recently, CMPs have gained importance in the field of membranes for chemical separation. In this review, we briefly discuss the historical development of CMPs, followed by a detailed description of the progress in state-of-the-art design, preparation, and application of CMPs in membranes. Additionally, we provide inference on the future prospects of CMPs as membranes.