LAUSR

Abstract Thin laminar membranes assembled by 2D nanomaterials evince the potential to achieve rapid and efficient molecular transport due to precisely amendable in-plane pores and interlayer distances. Despite the extensive use of graphene oxide (GO) membranes for water treatment, water-induced instability and the barrier effect remain challenging issues to be addressed. Here, a water-stable, graphene-like MOF nanosheet (Cu-TCPP) was implemented as a framework bridge to stabilize the GO laminates against swelling and redispersion into water. A stable heterostructure was established by the electrostatic interaction between porphyrin and oxygen-containing groups, and metal coordination of the carboxyl groups of GO nanosheets. The presence of ultrathin Cu-TCPP nanosheets promotes the formation of a nano-wrinkled surface with vertical-slit and in-plane pores that dominate the significantly improved water transport. The resultant composite membranes evince a 7-fold-higher water permeance (165.2 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) than that of GO membranes with remarkable solute retention (Congo red: 99.1%). Furthermore, this membrane shows an excellent sieving ability either for RB5/MO solutions or for CR/salt mixtures, while achieving a remarkable antibacterial activity against E. coli. The combination of rigid and flexible nanosheets opens an avenue to construct a water-stable multi-channel frame for the next generation of porous 2D materials for water purification.