Research Interest: Molecular sieving membranes

We devote to design and synthesis of novel membrane materials (for example, metal-organic frameworks, carbon-based porous materials, porous liquids, organic-inorganic hybrids, etc) and exploration of high-efficient membranes processes. We try to achieve membranes with superior selectivity, permeability and stability by rational design, modification and functionalization of chemical compositions and porous architectures of materials, seeking for energy-efficient and environment-friendly separation solution towards CO₂ capture, CH₄ upgrading, petrochemical separation, BDPC (biomass-derived platform chemicals) recovery, etc.

Research topics:

1. Application-oriented design and modification of molecular sieves

2. Grain engineering and interfacial intensification strategies for membranes

3. Organic-inorganic hybridization and composition at multi-scales

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Ph. D. in Physical Chemistry           09/2009-07/2015                    
State Key Laboratory of Catalysis
Dalian Institute of Physical Chemistry, CAS  

B. S. in Chemistry                    09/2005-07/2009                
Inner Mongolia Universit

 Professor                                    08/2023-  

 Associate Professor                   06/2018-08/2023           

 Assistant Professor                    01/2016-06/2018             

 Book

[1] W. Yang, Y. Ban, “Metal-Organic Framework Membranes”, China Science Publishing & Media Ltd., Dalian, China, 2017. (Supported by Nation Fund of Academic Publishing of Science and Technology in the year of 2016).

 Representative Journal Articles

1. Jiayi Liu, Yujie Ban*, Guangqi Zhu, Ziyi Hu, Weishen Yang,* Nanoconfined ultrathin polymer membrane for ultrafast separation of biobutanol from water, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, e202503501.

2. Yuecheng Wang, Yujie Ban*, Ziyi Hu, Weishen Yang,* Adaptive healing of stress-induced dynamic cracks in a metal-organic framework membrane using nanoparticles, Sci. Adv. 2024, 10, eado7331.

3. Meng Zhao, Dong-Dong Zhou, Pin Chen, Yujie Ban*, Yuecheng Wang, Ziyi Hu, Yutong Lu, Mu-Yang Zhou, Xiao-Ming Chen, Weishen Yang,* Heat-driven  molecule gatekeepers in MOF membrane for record-high H₂ selectivity, Sci. Adv. 2023, 9, eadg2229.

4. Yuecheng Wang, Yujie Ban*, Ziyi Hu, Weishen Yang,* A LDH template triggers the formation of a highly compact MIL-53 metal-organic framework membrane for acid upgrading, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202302181 (Hot paper).

5. Yuecheng Wang, Yujie Ban*, Ziyi Hu, Weishen Yang,* Energy-efficient extraction of linear alkane from various isomers using structured metal-organic framework membrane, Nat. Commun. 2023, 14, 6617.

6. Yujie Ban, Weishen Yang,* Multidimensional building blocks for molecular sieve membranes, Acc. Chem. Res. 2022, 55, 3162–3177.

7. Yuecheng Wang, Yujie Ban*, Ziyi Hu, Yang Zhao, Mingyuan Zheng, Weishen Yang,* Tao Zhang, Hetero-lattice intergrown and robust MOF membranes for polyol upgrading, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202114479 (Hot paper).

8. Meng Zhao, Yujie Ban*, Weishen Yang*, Assembly of ionic liquid molecule layers on metal-organic framework-808 for CO₂ capture, Chem. Eng. J. 2022, 439, 135650.

9. Meng Zhao, Yujie Ban*, Ze Chang, Yingwu Zhou, Kun Yang, Yuecheng Wang, Na Cao, Weishen Yang*,  Pyrazine-interior-embodied MOF-74 for selective CO₂ adsorption, AIChE J. 2022, 68, e17528.

10. Meng Zhao (contributed equally), Yujie Ban (contributed equally), Kun Yang, Yingwu Zhou, Na Cao, Yuecheng Wang, Weishen Yang*, A highly selective supramolecule array membrane made of zero-dimensional molecules for gas separation, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 20977–20983 (Hot paper).

11. Kun Yang, Sulei Hu, Yujie Ban*, Yingwu Zhou, Na Cao, Meng Zhao, Yifei Xiao, Weixue Li, Weishen Yang*, ZIF-L membrane with a membrane-interlocked-support composit architecture for H₂/CO₂ separation, Sci. Bull. 2021, 66, 1869–1876 (Front cover paper).

12. Kun Yang, Yujie Ban*, Weishen Yang*, Layered MOF membranes modified with ionic liquid/AgBF₄ composite fo olefin/paraffin separation, J. Membrane Sci. 2021, 639, 11977166.

13. Na Cao, Honglei Wang, Yujie Ban*, Yuecheng Wang, Kun Yang, Yingwu Zhou, Meng Zhao, Weiqiao Deng, Weishen Yang*, Tuning of delicate host-guest interactions in hydrated MIL-53 and functional variants for furfural capture from aqueous solution, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 1629–1634.

14. Kun Yang, Yujie Ban*, Ang Guo, Meng Zhao, Yingwu Zhou, Na Cao, Weishen Yang*, In-situ interfacial assembly of ultra-H₂-permeable metal-organic framework membranes for H₂/CO₂ separation, J. Membrane Sci. 2020, 611, 118419 (Editor's choice article).

15. Yujie Ban, Na Cao, Weishen Yang, Metal-organic framework membranes and membrane reactors: Versatile separations and intensified processes, Research 2020, 2020, 1583451.

16. Ang Guo, Yujie Ban*, Kun Yang, Yingwu Zhou, Na Cao, Meng Zhao, Weishen Yang*, Molecular sieving mixed matrix membranes embodying nano-fllers with extremely narrow pore-openings, J. Membrane Sci. 2020, 601, 117880.

17. Yingwu Zhou, Yuecheng Wang, Yujie Ban*, Ang Guo, Kun Yang, Na Cao, Weishen Yang*, Carbon molecular sieving membranes for butane isomer separation, AIChE J. 2019, 65, e16749.

   National Natural Science Foundation of China (01/2020-12/2023)

   National Natural Science Foundation of China-Youth Foundation (01/2018-12/2020)

   Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS (2021)

   DICP Innovation Cooperation Foundation (2019-2021)

   Cooperation Foundation of Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy (2019-2021)

   DCIP Innovation Foundation-Youth Foundation (01/2018-12/2020)

   Exploratory project supported by China National Petroleum Corporation (08/2017-12/2018)