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Novel modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles (mMSN)/polyamide (PA) thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes were prepared via interfacial polymerization of trimesoyl chloride (TMC) and piperazine (PIP). Mesoporous silica nanoparticles were functionalized with amino groups and introduced into PIP aqueous phase. Therefore, reaction between mMSN and TMC would occur during interfacial polymerization, giving rise to a covalent bonding between silica nanoparticles and active layer of TFN membrane. By adding an appropriate concentration of mMSN into aqueous phase (0.03wt%), the pure water flux of the mMSN/PA TFN membrane reaches to a maximum of 32.4L/m²h which is almost 1.5 times as high as that of TFC membrane, while the rejection to Na₂SO₄ of TFN membrane keeps at a relative high level (>80%). Two unique properties of mMSN were favorable for the membrane performance …