Future of Engineering

Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs), a fairly new class of hybrid materials that combine organic molecules with metal atoms, is thought to have a bright future for various applications, from medicine to the automotive industry. They could be used to create a variety of innovative materials that are described to have a complex architecture, such as thin or thick films, microparticles and fibers, for use for diagnostics or treatment.

So what are the MOFs? The European Science Foundation explains:

MOFs are porous materials with microscopic sized holes, resembling honeycombs at molecular dimensions. This property of having astronomical numbers of tiny holes within a relatively small volume can be exploited in various ways, one of which is as a repository for gases. Gas molecules diffuse into the MOF solid and are contained within its pores. In the case of gas storage, MOFs offer the crucial advantage of soaking up some of the gas pressure exerted by the molecules.

This makes hydrogen derived from non-fossil energy sources such as fuel cells, or even genetically engineered plants, potentially viable as a fuel for cars while the alternative of pressurised canisters is not.

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Labels: Material-Sciences