Novel MIL-100(Fe) paper membrane for autonomous indoor humidity control

Energy-efficient humidity control is essential for reducing building en-ergy consumption and improving indoor thermal comfort. Metal-organic frame-works (MOFs) are highly promising for this purpose, but using them in powder form presents challenges in practical building applications. Traditional shaping methods often result in issues like pore blocking and low efficiency. In this study, we have developed a sustainable MOF paper membrane comprising 70 wt% MOF Fe-MIL-100 powder and 30 wt% cellulosic fibers. The membrane's porous polymer matrix provides robust support for MOF particles, ensuring practical ap-plicability while preserving essential characteristics. Hygric characteristic tests confirm that the new MOF membrane exhibits high water vapor adsorption ca-pacity and excellent moisture buffer value (MBV). The MBV of the MOF mem-brane, with a thickness of 3.5 mm, is 3.9 times greater than that of a laminated wood board with a thickness of 15 mm. A numerical model was developed to optimize the membrane thickness for maximum MBV efficiency and to analyze the potential energy-saving rate of using the MOF membrane as wallpapers. The simulation results indicate that the MOF wallpaper holds promise for autono-mous indoor moisture control, capable of mitigating approximately 40%-55% of the latent cooling load across various European climates. Our findings highlight the potential of MOF paper membranes for passive indoor moisture control, of-fering a sustainable, efficient solution for enhancing building energy efficiency.