Coordination-engineered MXene-MOF hybrid membranes for sustainable water treatment: Interfaces, transport mechanisms, and environmental prospects

The global challenge of water scarcity demands innovative purification technologies. Membrane-based separation, enhanced by materials like two-dimensional MXenes and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), offers a promising path. This comprehensive review examines the development of Ti3C2Tx MXene/MOF composite membranes for advanced water treatment. We discuss the fundamental properties of MXenes and MOFs that enable their synergy through coordination-engineered interfaces, where MXenes provide mechanical stability and hydrophilic channels, and MOFs contribute precise porosity and multifunctional sites. The review systematically analyzes synthesis strategies, enhancement mechanisms (e.g., nanochannel engineering, photocatalytic self-cleaning), and performance across applications including oil/water separation, dye/salt fractionation, desalination, and removal of heavy metals and emerging pollutants. These composites demonstrate exceptional permeability, selectivity, and antifouling properties, effectively overcoming the classic trade-off. Furthermore, we address environmental considerations and future perspectives, highlighting that the development of MXene/MOF membranes is driven not only by performance gains but also by the pursuit of safer, more stable, and sustainable water treatment technologies.