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Meeting ID: 910 7577 9514

Abstract

Eighty years ago, polymers were largely unknown to the general public. However, in the late 1930s, one polymer—nylon—became a household name almost overnight. Nylon’s debut revolutionized the women’s hosiery market, marking the beginning of a materials revolution that would take decades to unfold. Over time, polymers became indispensable, finding applications in clothing, kitchenware, electronics, building materials, medicine, and beyond. Today, they are recognized as one of the defining materials of the 20th century.

Looking ahead, porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)—often referred to as “smart and programmable sponges”—are poised to become a hallmark material of the 21st century. Although this class of multidimensional crystalline materials is still in its early stages, their potential is vast. Fifty years from now, MOFs could be as integral to human life as polymers are today.

MOFs can be envisioned as nano-scale Tinker Toy assemblies, with metal nodes and organic linkers forming highly ordered, periodic structures. This modular design gives MOFs remarkable versatility and tunability, enabling a wide array of applications. Researchers worldwide have already explored their relevance in drug delivery, water harvesting, gas storage, chemical separations, and the destruction of toxic agents such as nerve gases.

Significantly, the commercialization of MOFs has begun, with start-up companies driving the transition from lab-scale research to practical, real-world applications. This talk will delve into the transformative potential of metal-organic frameworks, highlighting their role as enabling materials for environmental applications. From basic scientific discovery to implementation and commercialization, MOFs are paving the way for innovative solutions to some of society’s most pressing challenges.

Biography

Omar K. Farha is the Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professor and Chair in Chemistry at Northwestern University, an Executive Editor for ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces and President of Numat Technologies. His current research spans diverse areas of chemistry and materials science ranging from energy to defense-related challenges. His research accomplishments have been recognized by several awards and honors including a fellow of the European Academy of Sciences, Kuwait Prize, Japanese Society of Coordination Chemistry “International award for creative work”, the Royal Society of Chemistry “Environment, Sustainability and Energy Division Early Career” Award, the American Chemical Society “The Satinder Ahuja Award for Young Investigators in Separation Science” and “ACS ENFL Emerging Researcher Award”. As well, an award established by the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University in his honor: the Omar Farha Award for Research Leadership “awarded for stewardship, cooperation and leadership in the finest pursuit of research in chemistry” and given annually to an outstanding research scientist working in the department. Prof. Farha has more than 730 peer-reviewed publications, 115,000 citations and h-index of 170 (Google Scholar), and has been named a “Highly Cited Researcher” from 2014 to 2024 (Clarivate).