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University Spin-Off Developing Super-Porous Nanomaterials

Tom Robinson, right, and Julie-Ann O’Hare at NISP awards (Northern Ireland Science Park)

Tom Robinson, right, CEO of MOF Technologies holds a sample of metal-organic framework powder, and Julie-Ann O’Hare of Bank of Ireland, main sponsor of the NISP Connect awards (Northern Ireland Science Park)

A spin-off company from Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland is commercializing research on highly porous nanoscale materials, using a simple, safe process for synthesizing these materials developed at the university. The research by Queens chemistry professor Stuart James on these materials, known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), has led to the founding of the company MOF Technologies, also located in Belfast.

Metal-organic frameworks are crystalline materials with properties resembling sponges, and consisting of metal ions connected by organic molecules called linkers. Because of their highly porous state, these materials have an enormous surface area, with one gram — about the size of a pea — able to cover up to 40 tennis courts. This super-porosity also makes the materials very light in weight.

These properties of metal-organic frameworks make them good candidates for high-density storage of gases, such as natural gas, hydrogen, or carbon dioxide. Metal-organic frameworks also have potential for storing and delivering drugs, particularly where storage is needed for extended release times. Other potential applications are contrast agents in medical imaging and miniature sensors.

A key factor holding back large-scale use of metal-organic frameworks is their current manufacturing processes, which are costly and slow, and depend on large quantities of toxic and environmentally harmful solvents. James’s research has led to an alternative process, which has a patent, that is faster and uses few, if any, solvents.

MOF Technologies, which is commercializing James’s process, says it can produce quantities of metal-organic frameworks in minutes, resulting in a powdery form that can be used immediately. James serves as the company’s chief technologist. Last month the company was named the overall winner of a £25,000 ($US 40,000) award in a new-business competition at the Northern Ireland Science Park in Belfast.

“Academia has known for some time about the incredible properties of MOFs and hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent on their development, in labs around the world,” says Tom Robinson, MOF Technologies CEO (pictured at top). “We can now manufacture these materials in a scalable and environmentally-friendly way, unlocking their potential to transform the transport, gas storage and medical industries in the years to come.”

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