Researchers lower MOF glass processing temperatures using sodium additives, paving the way for scalable gas-trapping materials.
Scientists have found a way to make a new class of gas-trapping glass easier to manufacture by borrowing a centuries-old principle from traditional glassmaking. The advance could help move metal-organic framework (MOF) glasses closer to real-world use in carbon capture, hydrogen storage, and coatings.
The team showed that adding small amounts of sodium or lithium compounds can tune how MOF glass behaves when heated. These additives lower the temperature at which the material softens and improve how easily it flows, addressing a key barrier that has limited large-scale production.
MOF glasses are made from metal atoms linked by organic molecules, forming porous structures that can trap gases. While promising, they typically soften at temperatures above 572 degrees Fahrenheit, close to the point where they begin to degrade. That narrow window makes processing difficult.
By introducing chemical modifiers, researchers were able to loosen the internal structure of the glass, making it easier to shape without compromising its functional properties.
Lower heat, smoother flow
The approach mirrors how conventional silicate glasses are engineered. Small additives disrupt the network structure, allowing manufacturers to control melting behavior and mechanical performance. Applying the same idea to hybrid MOF glasses creates a new design pathway.
Dr Dominik Kubicki from the University of Birmingham said, “Glass has been part of human civilisation for millennia. From ancient Mesopotamia to modern fibre-optic cables, small amounts of chemical modifiers make it easier to process glass and change its functional properties.”
“However, MOF glasses soften only at high temperatures – above 300 degrees Celsius – close to their degradation temperature, making manufacturing challenging and limiting broader use. This discovery unlocks new possibilities for future high-performance materials.”
One well-known MOF glass, ZIF-62, can be melted and cooled while retaining part of its internal porosity. This makes it suitable for gas separation, membranes, and catalysis, but processing constraints have slowed its adoption.
From lab to industry
To understand how the additives work, the team used high-temperature solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. These tests revealed how sodium ions integrate into the glass network and alter its structure.
Further analysis using AI-driven computational modelling showed that sodium does not simply fill empty spaces. Instead, it replaces some zinc atoms, slightly loosening the network and improving flow characteristics.
Professor Sebastian Henke from TU Dortmund University said, “Our approach is inspired by how conventional silicate glasses have been modified: disrupting the network structure to tune melting behaviour and mechanical properties.”
“Our study shows the same principle can be transferred to hybrid metal-organic glasses. This advance brings MOF glasses a step closer to real-world manufacturing and applications in gas separation, storage, catalysis and beyond.”
The findings provide a framework for designing customized MOF glasses with tailored properties. Researchers say more work is needed to improve stability and better predict how these materials will perform in practical applications.
The study was published in Nature Chemistry.
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With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.