Researchers h
ave created a fabric material containing nanoscale fibers that are capable of degrading chemical warfare agents (CWAs).
Scientists from North Carolina State University (NCSU), RTI International and the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center synthesized uniform coatings of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) on top of the nanofibers to form unique “kebab-like” structures. These MOFs break down the CWAs, rendering them harmless, according to the researchers.
The researchers wanted to determine if they could grow MOFs as functional coatings onto fibers to be used in masks, filters and protective garments. Image credit: NCSU.“Current technologies for addressing CWAs rely on carbon-based materials. But these carbon materials can only adsorb hazardous compounds; they can’t degrade them,” says Junjie Zhao, a former Ph.D. student at NCSU and lead author of a paper on the work. While previous research had found MOFs to be effective at degrading CWAs, these materials normally come in the form of a powder. The researchers wanted to determine if they could grow MOFs as functional coatings onto fibers so that they could be used in masks, filters and protective garments…Read the full article here