MOFs — a small solution to a big problem
In 1944 the Hardvard Mark, one of the first-ever computers was built. A massive 1,800 square foot computer ranging over 50 feet long. Over time technology has become smaller and smaller. We have now reached a point where we have technology that you can't even see with the naked eye.
Nanotechnology is any Structure that is between 1 and 100 nanometers. This range is called the nanoscale. For some context, a piece of paper is 100,000 nanometers thick.
When I first heard of this technology I questioned it, I couldn’t stop wondering “How can something so small do something impactful”. In reality, it can solve some of the world's biggest problems. Kinda ironic something so small can fix big problems. I guess the saying “biggest the better” is officially dead.
MOFs
MOFs or Metal-organic frameworks are metal ion compounds or clusters that have the ability to change Co2 and Hydrogen into CH202 or formic acid.
MOFs possess very high C02 storage and have the highest working capacity compared to other carbon capture materials. This makes it perfect for what we are going to use it for.
What are we going to use it for?
If you ask anyone what the biggest problems are in today's world, the one problem that most people say is climate change. So why not use nanotech for the world's biggest problems.
Why do we hate carbon, what does it actually do?
Before anything, we have to understand why climate change and global warming are happening. When the sun shines down heat and energy rays down to earth, a lot of them actually deflect back to space.
When they're getting deflected back to space different greenhouses gasses in our atmosphere(mainly carbon dioxide) absorb the solar energy and keep it close to the earth.
Now when our carbon emissions increase, more carbon is in our atmosphere. Resulting in more solar energy being absorbed. And we all know what happens when there is more solar energy is in the atmosphere, the world gets warmer, something you might know as global warming.
So, what are we currently doing?
If global warming is as big as people say there must be something we can do? The UN (united nations) tells us to do the following things. Carpool, switch to electric cars, limit airplane travel. What do airplanes and cars have in common? They both burn fossil fuels. fossil fuels consist of hydrogen and the biggie carbon😬
Instead of switching to electric everything, I think we should just get rid of the carbon. As with everything in the world, easier said than done. BUT as we mentioned before there is a magical material on the rise MOFs.
Negatives
Yup, it's this part of the article WHY ISN’T IT SOLVING ALL OUR PROBLEMS TODAY. Well, one just simple reason: money. For 1kg of MOF-177, it costs $113k. That's a lot for only a kg. The main cost of it comes in the synthesis stage of its production. Kinda ironic how something so small can cost so much. Sounds like my dad talking about me.
Conclusion
To summarize, Nanotechnology is an awesome technology that can have the potential to solve the world's biggest problem.
One of which is global warming. The rising carbon levels are causing the earth to get hotter and hotter year over year,
MOFs are a potential technology that can help solve this problem by capturing carbon and turning it into formic acid.
The problem we are facing right now is the cost, but over time technology can advance and it will become much cheaper.
In the future, we are going to be hearing more and more about MOFs. Once the price starts dropping I believe this technology can be life-saving… literally.
