Metal-organic framework absorbs microwaves

Materials that reduce electromagnetic interference between electrical components in advanced electronic circuits and help aircraft, ships, and other military hardware evade radar detection rely on absorbing microwaves. Now researchers have shown, for the first time, that an iron-based metal-organic framework (MOF) has microwave-absorbing properties [Green et al., Materials Today Chemistry 9 (2018) 140].

MOFs are highly porous composite materials constructed from organic ligands or linking molecules and metal ions or clusters. The resulting coordinated network forms a three-dimensional structure with record-breaking surface areas and pore volumes, which has attracted attention for catalysis, sensing, drug delivery and gas storage.

“Now we have shown, for the first time, that ferric metal organic frameworks (or MOFs) possess very good microwave absorption properties,” says Xiaobo Chen, who led the research effort.