Imprinting techniques have been investigated extensively for the selective recognition of molecules and ions. However, few reviews focused on the state-of-the-art developments in ion imprinting technique. Ions and their analogs have a charge and usually similar physical and chemical properties, but less functional groups than molecules. The slight differences in charges, sizes and shapes of ions determine the structure–activity of metal–ligand complexes and imprinted materials. In this review, we focused on the internal connections between each component at coordination and polymerization stages with the affinity and selectivity of the imprinted materials. Advanced imprinting routes such as multiple-template, dual-template docking oriented ionic imprinting and nanocomposite ion imprinted membranes were elaborated. Computational simulation was highlighted for the prediction of functional monomers, binding mechanisms and selectivity. Multiple antifouling enhanced strategies for ion imprinted membranes were put forward to alleviate the trade-off relationship between treated volume and time. The review should provide researchers with new perspectives to explore ion imprinting technology and stimulate more creative breakthroughs in ion separation and purification fields.

压印技术已被广泛研究以选择性识别分子和离子。但是，很少有评论关注离子压印技术的最新发展。离子及其类似物带电荷，通常具有相似的物理和化学性质，但官能团比分子少。离子的电荷，大小和形状的细微差别决定了金属-配体络合物和印迹材料的结构-活性。在这篇综述中，我们着重于在配位和聚合阶段各组分之间的内部联系以及印迹材料的亲和力和选择性。阐述了先进的印迹途径，如多模板，双模板对接的离子印迹和纳米复合离子印迹膜。计算模拟突出了功能性单体，结合机理和选择性的预测。提出了多种离子印迹膜防污增强策略，以减轻处理量和时间之间的权衡关系。审查应为研究人员提供新的视角，以探索离子印迹技术，并刺激离子分离和纯化领域的更多创新性突破。