IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v402y2025ipas0306261925016071.html

Understanding advanced membranes for clean energy: COFs and GO approaches in osmotic power generation

Author

Listed:
  • Najafov, Bakhtiyar
  • Garazade, Ismayil M.
  • Gupta, Rakesh Kumar
  • Singh, Gurjaspreet
  • Sun, Wei
  • Pombeiro, Armando J.L.
  • Mohan, Brij

Abstract

The development of advanced membranes is crucial to addressing global energy and sustainability challenges. Osmotic energy harvesting (OEH), which utilizes salinity gradients, provides a clean and renewable energy solution. COFs provide ordered channels for selective ion transport and water control, while GO's high surface area and oxygen groups improve ion mobility and surface charge. This review examines the distinctive structural and functional properties of COFs and GO, including their high surface area, tunable porosity, and exceptional ion selectivity, which collectively enhance energy conversion efficiency. This review examines and discusses key advancements in synthesis techniques, surface modifications, and hybrid membrane systems, highlighting their contributions to enhanced power density, scalability, and mechanical stability. Additionally, we address critical challenges in large-scale deployment, including membrane degradation and fouling, and propose innovative strategies to mitigate these limitations. By bridging the gap between material science and renewable energy technologies, this review not only highlights the potential of COFs and GO-based membranes for osmotic energy harvesting but also outlines a roadmap for their broader application in sustainable energy solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Najafov, Bakhtiyar & Garazade, Ismayil M. & Gupta, Rakesh Kumar & Singh, Gurjaspreet & Sun, Wei & Pombeiro, Armando J.L. & Mohan, Brij, 2025. "Understanding advanced membranes for clean energy: COFs and GO approaches in osmotic power generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 402(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:402:y:2025:i:pa:s0306261925016071
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126877
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261925016071
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126877?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xiaoyi Xu & Xinyu Wu & Kai Xu & Hong Xu & Hongzheng Chen & Ning Huang, 2023. "Pore partition in two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Jiadong Tang & Yun Wang & Hongyang Yang & Qianqian Zhang & Ce Wang & Leyuan Li & Zilong Zheng & Yuhong Jin & Hao Wang & Yifan Gu & Tieyong Zuo, 2024. "All-natural 2D nanofluidics as highly-efficient osmotic energy generators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Yuru Guan & Jin Yan & Yuli Shan & Yannan Zhou & Ye Hang & Ruoqi Li & Yu Liu & Binyuan Liu & Qingyun Nie & Benedikt Bruckner & Kuishuang Feng & Klaus Hubacek, 2023. "Burden of the global energy price crisis on households," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(3), pages 304-316, March.
    4. Songfeng Pei & Qinwei Wei & Kun Huang & Hui-Ming Cheng & Wencai Ren, 2018. "Green synthesis of graphene oxide by seconds timescale water electrolytic oxidation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Jin Wang & Zheng Cui & Shangzhen Li & Zeyuan Song & Miaolu He & Danxi Huang & Yuan Feng & YanZheng Liu & Ke Zhou & Xudong Wang & Lei Wang, 2024. "Unlocking osmotic energy harvesting potential in challenging real-world hypersaline environments through vermiculite-based hetero-nanochannels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. Zhen Zhang & Sheng Yang & Panpan Zhang & Jian Zhang & Guangbo Chen & Xinliang Feng, 2019. "Mechanically strong MXene/Kevlar nanofiber composite membranes as high-performance nanofluidic osmotic power generators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    7. Muzaffar, Aqib & Ahamed, M. Basheer & Hussain, Chaudhery Mustansar, 2024. "Green supercapacitors: Latest developments and perspectives in the pursuit of sustainability," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    8. Hongjian Wang & Yeming Zhai & Yang Li & Yu Cao & Benbing Shi & Runlai Li & Zingting Zhu & Haifei Jiang & Zheyuan Guo & Meidi Wang & Long Chen & Yawei Liu & Kai-Ge Zhou & Fusheng Pan & Zhongyi Jiang, 2022. "Covalent organic framework membranes for efficient separation of monovalent cations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    9. Xiaoyao Wang & Benbing Shi & Hao Yang & Jingyuan Guan & Xu Liang & Chunyang Fan & Xinda You & Yanan Wang & Zhe Zhang & Hong Wu & Tao Cheng & Runnan Zhang & Zhongyi Jiang, 2022. "Assembling covalent organic framework membranes with superior ion exchange capacity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    10. Yuzhong Hu & Kaushik Parida & Hao Zhang & Xin Wang & Yongxin Li & Xinran Zhou & Samuel Alexander Morris & Weng Heng Liew & Haomin Wang & Tao Li & Feng Jiang & Mingmin Yang & Marin Alexe & Zehui Du & C, 2022. "Bond engineering of molecular ferroelectrics renders soft and high-performance piezoelectric energy harvesting materials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    11. Mengchen Zhang & Kecheng Guan & Yufan Ji & Gongping Liu & Wanqin Jin & Nanping Xu, 2019. "Controllable ion transport by surface-charged graphene oxide membrane," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    12. Hao Yang & Leixin Yang & Hongjian Wang & Ziang Xu & Yumeng Zhao & Yi Luo & Nayab Nasir & Yimeng Song & Hong Wu & Fusheng Pan & Zhongyi Jiang, 2019. "Covalent organic framework membranes through a mixed-dimensional assembly for molecular separations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    13. Wenxiu Jiang & Jiale Zhou & Xianwei Zhong & Mingwei Fang & Junran Hao & Danying Zhao & Xiufang Wen & Huanting Wang & Yahong Zhou & Ying Zhu & Lei Jiang, 2025. "Axial alignment of covalent organic framework membranes for giant osmotic energy harvesting," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 8(4), pages 446-455, April.
    14. Qing Guo & Zhuozhi Lai & Xiuhui Zuo & Weipeng Xian & Shaochun Wu & Liping Zheng & Zhifeng Dai & Sai Wang & Qi Sun, 2023. "Photoelectric responsive ionic channel for sustainable energy harvesting," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    15. Jinfeng Lin & Jin Qian & Guanglong Ge & Yuxuan Yang & Jiangfan Li & Xiao Wu & Guohui Li & Simin Wang & Yingchun Liu & Jialiang Zhang & Jiwei Zhai & Xiaoming Shi & Haijun Wu, 2024. "Multiscale reconfiguration induced highly saturated poling in lead-free piezoceramics for giant energy conversion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    16. Hayato Otsuka & Koki Urita & Nobutaka Honma & Takashi Kimuro & Yasushi Amako & Radovan Kukobat & Teresa J. Bandosz & Junzo Ukai & Isamu Moriguchi & Katsumi Kaneko, 2024. "Transient chemical and structural changes in graphene oxide during ripening," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    17. Chencheng Qin & Xiaodong Wu & Lin Tang & Xiaohong Chen & Miao Li & Yi Mou & Bo Su & Sibo Wang & Chengyang Feng & Jiawei Liu & Xingzhong Yuan & Yanli Zhao & Hou Wang, 2023. "Dual donor-acceptor covalent organic frameworks for hydrogen peroxide photosynthesis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    18. Niaz Ali Khan & Runnan Zhang & Xiaoyao Wang & Li Cao & Chandra S. Azad & Chunyang Fan & Jinqiu Yuan & Mengying Long & Hong Wu & Mark. A. Olson & Zhongyi Jiang, 2022. "Assembling covalent organic framework membranes via phase switching for ultrafast molecular transport," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    19. Tianhao Zhu & Yan Kong & Bohui Lyu & Li Cao & Benbing Shi & Xiaoyao Wang & Xiao Pang & Chunyang Fan & Chao Yang & Hong Wu & Zhongyi Jiang, 2023. "3D covalent organic framework membrane with fast and selective ion transport," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    20. Zhongshan Chen & Jingyi Wang & Mengjie Hao & Yinghui Xie & Xiaolu Liu & Hui Yang & Geoffrey I. N. Waterhouse & Xiangke Wang & Shengqian Ma, 2023. "Tuning excited state electronic structure and charge transport in covalent organic frameworks for enhanced photocatalytic performance," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    21. Changxia Li & Jin Yang & Pradip Pachfule & Shuang Li & Meng-Yang Ye & Johannes Schmidt & Arne Thomas, 2020. "Ultralight covalent organic framework/graphene aerogels with hierarchical porosity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mitali, Urbana Kawsar & Hussain, Arshad & Hossain, Md. Billal & Shah, Syed Shaheen & Manickavasakam, Karnan & Kim, Bong-Joong & Aziz, Md. Abdul & Ahammad, A.J. Saleh, 2026. "Recent advances in COF-based separators for rechargeable batteries: Design, properties, and applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 405(C).
    2. Shuai Fu & Xiao Li & Guanzhao Wen & Yunyu Guo & Matthew A. Addicoat & Mischa Bonn & Enquan Jin & Klaus Müllen & Hai I. Wang, 2025. "Dimensional evolution of charge mobility and porosity in covalent organic frameworks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Jingcheng Du & Jian guan & Ali A. AL-Thuraya & Weiwang Lim & Qian Sun & Ayan Yao & Dong Cao & Ji Ma & Yuting zhang & Yumo Fan & Pengjia Dou & Jiangtao Liu, 2025. "Asymmetric ionic covalent organic framework membranes with tunable Turing patterns prepared via ion regulated strategy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Qian Sun & Pengjia Dou & Jingcheng Du & Ayan Yao & Dong Cao & Ji Ma & Shabi Ul Hassan & Jian Guan & Jiangtao Liu, 2025. "Biomimetic KcsA channels enabled by 1D MOF-in-2D COF," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Tianhao Zhu & Yan Kong & Bohui Lyu & Li Cao & Benbing Shi & Xiaoyao Wang & Xiao Pang & Chunyang Fan & Chao Yang & Hong Wu & Zhongyi Jiang, 2023. "3D covalent organic framework membrane with fast and selective ion transport," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    6. Zhong Chen & Hao Weng & Chengcheng Chu & Ducheng Yao & Qiuju Li & Chen Zhang & Shun Mao, 2025. "Nitrogen heterocyclic covalent organic frameworks for efficient H2O2 photosynthesis and in situ water treatment," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    7. Xu, Ying & Li, Wei & Sui, Wenjie & Xu, Ting & Wang, Guanhua & Hu, Jinguang & Si, Chuanling, 2025. "Lignin-based photocatalytic materials: Fabrication, applications, and perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    8. Jiani Li & Changhui Liu & Peiyao Yan & Kaijie Chen & Yan Jiang & Dongdong Liu & Huiting Shan & Xianyu Song & Bohui Lyu & Jianwen Jiang & Siowling Soh, 2025. "Amorphous polymers separate small organic molecules with switchable selective states," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    9. Yunqiu Zhou & Guishan Hu & Jingsi Yuan & Xiang Zhang & Jingwei Hou & Xueli Cao & Yatao Zhang & Shi-Peng Sun & Bart Van der Bruggen & Junyong Zhu, 2026. "Ultramicroporous covalent organic framework membranes with fortified hydrogen-bond networks for high-performance desalination," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 17(1), pages 1-11, December.
    10. Qing Guo & Huaxi Guo & Zhiwei Xing & Zhuozhi Lai & Jiaming Yi & Sai Wang & Li Zhang & Shengqian Ma & Qi Sun, 2025. "Energy-autonomous KCl extraction from brine via biomimetic covalent-organic-framework membranes and redox-driven ion transport," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    11. Du, Yimeng & Qin, Shengfan & Lin, Pengcheng & Chen, Ying, 2025. "Offshore self-powered communication and positioning enabled by efficient conversion of renewable salinity energy into green power utilizing low-cost asymmetric nano-hybrid hydrogel membrane," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 396(C).
    12. Altinisik, Hasan & Celebi, Ceren & Ozden, Adnan & Devrim, Yılser & Ozgur Colpan, C., 2026. "A review on membranes for anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 226(PB).
    13. Chun-Hao Chiang & Chia-Chun Wei & Pai-Chia Kuo & Wei-Lun Hung & Yin-Cheng Lin & Li-Shu Wang & Chia-An Lung & Ting-Ran Liu & Zih-Wei Cyue & Jessie Shiue & Yen-Lin Huang & Jan-Chi Yang & Li-Hsien Yeh & , 2026. "Single symmetric nanopores in ultrathin crystalline ferroelectric BiFeO3 as polarization-switchable ionic diodes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 17(1), pages 1-10, December.
    14. Yujun Ju & Hailong Lin & Guoying Tan & Pingru Su & Zhe Wang & Chenjia Hu & Ruien Hou & Tinglong Hao & Fengjuan Chen & Yu Tang, 2025. "Regulating the electronic structure of covalent organic frameworks via heterocyclic isomers for highly efficient photocatalytic H2O2 generation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    15. Hao-Ran Yang & Shu-Jie Hu & Meng-Yue Zhang & Di Wu & Lei Zheng & Qianhong She & Zhi-Hua Yuan & Lin-Jiang Zhong & Xuan Zhao & Ying Chen & Hong Liu & Lin-Ji Xu & Yuan Liu, 2026. "Synthetic urine oversimplification results in misleading membrane fouling mechanisms in bipolar membrane electrodialysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 17(1), pages 1-12, December.
    16. Xiaofei Shi & Jinshuai Song & Donghui Wei, 2025. "An analysis method including orbital overlap directions for predicting π electron properties and reactivity vectors," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    17. Yanghui Hou & Peng Zhou & Fuyang Liu & Ke Tong & Yanyu Lu & Zhengmao Li & Jialiang Liang & Meiping Tong, 2024. "Rigid covalent organic frameworks with thiazole linkage to boost oxygen activation for photocatalytic water purification," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    18. Jiao, Yanmei & Yang, Chun & Zhang, Wenyao & Wang, Qiuwang & Zhao, Cunlu, 2024. "A review on direct osmotic power generation: Mechanism and membranes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    19. Yang Xie & Wenjing Wang & Zeyue Zhang & Jian Li & Bo Gui & Junliang Sun & Daqiang Yuan & Cheng Wang, 2024. "Fine-tuning the pore environment of ultramicroporous three-dimensional covalent organic frameworks for efficient one-step ethylene purification," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-7, December.
    20. Jing Wang & Junwei Zhang & Pengrui Jin & He Wen & Ziwen Dai & Hao Tan & Shushan Yuan & Jiakuan Yang & Menachem Elimelech, 2025. "A covalent organic framework membrane with highly selective and permeable artificial sodium channels via ion recognition," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:402:y:2025:i:pa:s0306261925016071. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.