metal-organic framework

chemical compound

Also known as: MOF

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 19, 2026

Quick Summary

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are highly porous materials constructed by linking metal ions with organic molecules. These structures possess vast surface areas, making them exceptionally efficient for capturing and storing gases. The development of MOFs has led to significant advancements in gas-adsorption technologies.123

Pioneers in this field include chemists Richard Robson, Susumu Kitagawa, and Omar M. Yaghi, who shared the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on MOFs. Yaghi developed the first MOF in 1995, using metal atoms as nodes connected by organic molecules, creating frameworks with empty spaces that can hold other molecules. Tens of thousands of different MOFs have since been synthesized.243

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Richard Robson
…work on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of highly porous materials created by coordinating metal ions with organic linkers. He shared the prize with Japanese chemist Susumu Kitagawa and Jordanian-born American chemist Omar M. Yaghi.
Read More
…work on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of highly porous materials created by coordinating metal ions with organic linkers. He shared the prize with Japanese chemist Susumu Kitagawa and Jordanian-born American chemist Omar M. Yaghi.
Read More

Omar M. Yaghi
…his collaborators developed the first metal-organic framework (MOF), in which metal atoms (in this case, cobalt) serve as the nodes of the framework and are connected by organic molecules. The empty spaces between the pieces of the framework can be used to contain other molecules. Tens of thousands of different…
Read More
…his collaborators developed the first metal-organic framework (MOF), in which metal atoms (in this case, cobalt) serve as the nodes of the framework and are connected by organic molecules. The empty spaces between the pieces of the framework can be used to contain other molecules. Tens of thousands of different…
Read More