Credit: Image courtesy of Angewandte Communications
Usually, flexible polymers pack together to form dense materials without pores. However, this new design strategy combines charged metal atoms (zinc ions, Zn2+, in the above example) with molecular chains (polymers) to create an entirely new hybrid material with a cage-like structure. The material has a three-dimensional rigid structure that is highly porous and regular in all directions. This moisture-resistant material has potential applications in storing natural gas or hydrogen for advanced vehicles, capturing carbon dioxide, separation, manufacturing, and purifying chemicals.