ZIF-8 membranes with ultramicropores have recently gained attention for applications in ion separation due to their structural similarity to biological ion channels. Nonetheless, their inherent ionic conductivity, diffusivity, and chemical stability in aqueous electrolyte solutions have yet to be thoroughly evaluated. In this study, a vacuum-assisted thermal activation approach was implemented to eliminate residual gases and trapped impurities from the ultramicropores of ZIF-8, facilitating reproducible measurement of its intrinsic ion transport properties. The ionic conductivities and diffusivities of various cations in aqueous solvent were quantified for alumina support and ZIF-8 membrane using a resistance-in-series model. The results show that monovalent ions (Li+, Na+, K+) possess higher conductivity and diffusivity compared to divalent ions (Mg2+, Ca2+) (Li+/Mg2+ or Li+/Ca2+ selectivity respectively of 28 and 63), largely attributable to partial dehydration and steric sieving within angstrom-scale apertures of ZIF-8. The intrinsic conductivity and diffusivity of cations within the ZIF-8 layer is low and markedly restricted, ranging from 4 × 10−8 to 10−9 S/cm and 10−14 to 10−16 m2 s−1 respectively, underscoring the substantial confinement exerted by the ultramicroporous structure of ZIF-8. Time-resolved resistance assessments further reveal that ZIF-8 membranes exhibit limited chemical stability in aqueous electrolytes, as resistance decreases rapidly to substrate level within 10–15 h. These findings present a big challenge to use ZIF-8 membranes for ion separation due to their extremely low ion flux and limited stability in aqueous system. This research offers the first reliable quantification of ionic conductivity, diffusivity, and selectivity in ultramicropores, providing insight for the systematic design of MOF membranes with improved selectivity and stability.
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