R. P. Lively and colleagues have made significant advancements in the field of xylene isomer separation using carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes. Their study, highlighted in their Communication on page 13259, showcases a novel hydrogen-assisted pyrolysis strategy that transforms a microporous glassy polymer into CMS with pore sizes ranging from 0.6 to 0.8 nm. This precise pore size control enables effective room temperature liquid-phase separation of p-xylene and o-xylene, offering a promising, energy-efficient alternative to traditional thermal separation techniques. -Journal cover picture design by scapiens

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/anie.201909267