Ancient glassmaking method unlocks easier shaping of futuristic gas-trapping glass

Scientists found a way to make metal-organic framework (MOF) glass easier to shape by adding small amounts of sodium or lithium compounds.

The additives lower the softening and processing temperature, improving flow while preserving the material’s porous, gas-trapping structure.

The work, led by the University of Birmingham and TU Dortmund University, centers on ZIF-62 MOF glass and combines solid-state NMR with computational modeling.

The approach could make MOF glasses more practical to manufacture at scale for gas capture, storage, catalysis, and protective coatings.