Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are characterized by high porosity and structural versatility. They have enormous potential, for example for applications in electronics. However, their low electrical conductivity has so far greatly restricted their adoption. Using AI and robot-assisted synthesis in a self-driving laboratory, researchers from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), together with colleagues in Germany and Brazil, have now succeeded in producing an MOF thin film that conducts electricity like metals. This opens up new possibilities in electronics and energy storage – from sensors and quantum materials to functional materials. The team reports in the Materials Horizons journal. (DOI: 10.1039/d5mh00813a)

Imagine flipping a switch not to turn on a light—but to shift your building from heating to cooling. A breakthrough in smart materials now makes this possible. Scientists have developed an electrochromic harvester that dynamically alternates between collecting heat and releasing it—offering a low-power, all-day climate solution that could reduce building energy use by up to 21.4%.