FunGlass & Otto Schott Institute Collaboration on Hybrid Glass Composites, Published in Advanced Functional Materials

We are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper, “Overcoming the Selectivity-Sensitivity Trade-Off in Electroactive Gas Sensing Using Hybrid Glass Composites,” in Advanced Functional Materials. This research is the result of a successful collaboration between the Otto Schott Institute of Materials Research, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany, led by Prof. Lothar Wondraczek and Dr. Alexander Knebel, and FunGlass, with major contributions from Dr. Orhan Sisman.

During his stay at Jena University, Dr. Sisman focused on developing novel porous hybrid MOF glasses, which serve as key materials for highly sensitive and selective gas sensors. The remarkable findings from this study have now been published, marking a significant step forward in gas sensing technology. The collaboration remains active and is expected to yield further impactful results in the future.

https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202416535

Abstract:

Hybrid glasses derived from meltable metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) represent a new class of amorphous materials. By combining the porosity of MOFs with the processability of glasses, they open up new possibilities for functional materials. This study demonstrates how the intrinsic porosity of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) glasses can be leveraged to overcome the selectivity-sensitivity trade-off in electroactive gas sensing.

To achieve this, metallophthalocyanines were embedded within a ZIF-62 MOF glass matrix, creating a composite material capable of detecting specific gas species through its pronounced electrochemical sensitivity. The solid glass matrix stabilizes and protects the active component while maintaining selective gas detection through molecular sieving and size exclusion of larger molecules. Additionally, the hydrophobic nature of the ZIF pore interior prevents sensor degradation caused by humidity.

Structural, optical, and electronic analyses confirm that the composite formation is purely physical, meaning there are no unwanted chemical interactions, and both the hybrid glass matrix and electroactive metallophthalocyanine retain their unique properties. High-temperature electrical impedance measurements reveal significant resistance shifts in CO₂ and Ar atmospheres compared to airflow, proving the effectiveness of these materials for highly selective and sensitive gas sensing.

This study presents a proof of concept for the future development of MOF glass-based gas sensors, offering exciting possibilities for advanced sensing technologies.