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(Nanowerk News) Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are materials composed of metal ions or clusters coordinated to organic molecules to form one, two, or three-dimensional structures. These highly porous structures possess large surface areas, making them extremely versatile for various applications. MOFs are a significant area of research in materials science and chemistry. The scientific and technological interest in this family of compounds continues to grow thanks to their large chemical and structural diversity and their tremendous potential applications.
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Great potential
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MOFs are advanced materials that offer a wide range of applications due to their unique structure and properties. Their distinctive features, along with the ability to be synthesised at different length scales (nano, meso, and macro-scale), positioning them as promising candidates for groundbreaking technologies. These advancements could help tackle major societal challenges, such as cancer nanomedicine at the nanoscale, energy storage at the mesoscale, and wastewater treatment at the macroscale.
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Despite MOFs’ significant potential and industrial promise for the above-mentioned applications, only a limited number of structures have successfully bridged the gap between research and innovation. Recent advancements in experimental and computational techniques have enhanced our molecular-level insights and deepened our understanding of MOF-based chemistry.
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In material science, transitioning new materials from academic research to commercial products faces significant challenges. The primary obstacle is the high risk and cost of scaling up production, which can alter material properties and performance. Limited market demand, specialised production requirements, and the disconnect between academic research and industry need also hinder commercialisation. To overcome these barriers, collaboration between researchers, industry, and policymakers is essential to reduce commercialisation risks.
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Introducing EU4MOFs COST Action
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The EU4MOFs COST Action is a multi and interdisciplinary research network that is focusing its research on transforming lab-designed metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) into practical solutions for healthcare, sustainable energy, and clean water. The network currently has about 300 members ranging from chemical sciences, materials engineering, physics, computational science, nanotechnology, (nano)medicine, and biology spread over 22 countries. In addition, 43 different institutions are represented within the network, including 10 SMEs providing their experience.
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“The first year of EU4MOFs has enabled us to establish new connections among enthusiastic scientists in the field of MOFs across Europe. Our goal is to develop an effective strategy for sharing our knowledge, blending interdisciplinary expertise, and learning from each other to promote the technology transfer of MOFs. In the coming year, we will focus on maximizing our collective efforts to translate lab-designed MOF materials into practical applications in three high-need areas: water purification, energy storage, and (nano)medicine”. (Prof. Stefan Wuttke, Chair, and Dr Romy Ettlinger, Vice Chair of EU4MOFs)
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The network aims to develop and promote technological solutions and enhance control and customisation of the interactions between reactivity, selectivity, efficiency, and processability in MOF materials. EU4MOFs will focus on advancing the development of high-performance MOF materials at the nano-, meso-, and macro-scale for three critical applications: cancer nanomedicine, wastewater treatment, and energy storage.
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Interdisciplinary research for MOFs
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By uniting interdisciplinary researchers together with industrial partners, EU4MOFs will contribute to substantially advancing the current frontiers of MOF materials from the laboratory bench towards industrial-scale, to ultimately generate societal impact.
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Last June, the network organised a symposium and workshop in Bilbao, Spain, to underscore the transformative potential of MOFs in addressing important global issues. The event brought together leading experts from academia and industry from more than 20 countries, facilitating meaningful discussions and collaborations that pave the way for future innovations in MOF research and applications.
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In the longer term, the network aims to enhance production capabilities and establish standardised and controllable manufacturing processes. This will help to set clear publication standards, clarify structure-activity relationships, and foster strong partnerships between industry and academia.
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