Stability, Molecular Sieving, and Ion Diffusion Selectivity of a Lamellar Membrane from Two-Dimensional Molybdenum Disulfide

Two-dimensional (2D) subnanometer channels allow unique mass transport promising for molecular sieving. New 2D channels of MoS2 nanosheets allow one to understand molecular transmission and separation, unlike the graphene oxide counterpart containing various defects and cationic metal contaminants. Membranes from layered MoS2 platelets show extraordinary stability in an aqueous environment and compatibility with polymer filters, both beneficial to efficient manufacturing. Sharing gas-tightness and unimpeded water vapor permeation with a graphene oxide membrane, our lamellar MoS2 membrane demonstrates a molecular sieving property for organic vapor for the first time. The MoS2 membrane also reveals diffusion selectivity of aqueous ions, attributable to the energy penalty in bulk-to-2D dimensional transition. These newly revealed properties of the lamellar membrane full of angstrom-sized 2D channels point to membrane technology applications for energy and environment.