Photoinduced Postsynthetic Polymerization of a Metal-Organic Framework toward a Flexible Stand-Alone Membrane

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a promising class of nanoporous polymeric materials. However, the processing of such fragile crystalline powders into desired shapes for further applications is often difficult. A photoinduced postsynthetic polymerization (PSP) strategy was now employed to covalently link MOF crystals by flexible polymer chains, thus endowing the MOF powders with processability and flexibility. Nanosized UiO‐66‐NH2 was first functionalized with polymerizable functional groups, and its subsequent copolymerization with monomers was easily induced by UV light under solvent‐free and mild conditions. Because of the improved interaction between MOF particles and polymer chains, the resulting stand‐alone and elastic MOF‐based PSP‐derived membranes possess crack‐free and uniform structures and outstanding separation capabilities for CrVI ions from water. Link‐up: A UV‐light‐induced postsynthetic polymerization (PSP) was employed to covalently link crystals of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) by flexible polymer chains. The obtained MOF‐based membranes are homogeneously structured and show very good separation capacities for the removal of CrVI ions from water.