Scalable Fabrication of MOF Glass Membranes for Gas Separation via Stepwise Phase Transition.

MOF glasses have emerged as promising membrane materials, yet the scalable fabrication of macroscopically continuous and crack-free MOF glass membranes remains a critical bottleneck that hinders their industrial translation. Here, we report a stepwise phase transition strategy that enables the formation of large-area MOF glass membranes. By constructing a crystalline-amorphous composite precursor, this strategy mitigates electrostatic repulsion and leverage graded viscoelastic flow to promote early-stage interparticle bonding. This approach effectively suppresses cracking and pinhole defect formation during large-area processing, providing a viable pathway toward scalable glassy membrane manufacturing. Based on this method, a record-breaking 100 cm2 MOF glass membrane exhibiting a CH4 permeance of ∼13,000 GPU and CH4/N2 selectivity of ∼4.4, alongside a validated disc-type module, has been successfully fabricated. This strategy establishes a scalable route for producing large-area MOF glass membranes and advances their application in real-world gas separation scenarios.