Chemists led by the University of Birmingham have created a highly tunable metal-organic framework (MOF) material, according to a report by Chinese automotive outlet Gasgoo. By altering the metal "recipe" within the material, scientists can adjust its properties, opening new possibilities for gas storage and sensing technologies that could eventually support electric-vehicle (EV) applications such as battery materials or hydrogen storage.
What is a MOF?
MOFs are crystalline structures made of metal atoms linked by organic molecules, forming a highly ordered network with tiny pores. This particular material can incorporate up to 16 different metals into a single crystal, the highest number ever achieved in a MOF, the team reported in the journal Angewandte Chemie.
The researchers demonstrated that changing the metal ratios within the framework can tune properties including magnetism, porosity, light absorption, and carbon dioxide adsorption. This means scientists could design materials with specific characteristics without having to develop entirely new compounds each time.
Path to programmable materials
Lead author Neil Champness, a professor at the University of Birmingham, said the work "confirms a route to 'programmable' porous materials," allowing researchers to select specific metal combinations to precisely adjust magnetic, optical, chemical, or gas-adsorption properties. The ability to predict how strongly a particular metal integrates into the structure could enable finer control over multi-metal materials in the future, he added.
While the research is still at an early stage, MOFs are already being explored for applications such as carbon capture, hydrogen storage, and battery electrodes. For the EV industry, such materials could eventually contribute to more efficient energy storage or lighter, more effective gas-separation systems.
