A new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, challenges the prevailing view on how metal organic frameworks (MOFs) store gases. MOFs are a class of materials that are made up of metal ions and organic molecules, and they have been widely studied for their potential applications in gas storage and separation.

The prevailing view on how MOFs store gases is that the gases are adsorbed onto the surface of the MOF. However, the new study, which was published in the journal Nature, shows that the gases are actually stored inside the pores of the MOF.

This finding has important implications for the design and development of MOFs for gas storage applications. By understanding how gases are actually stored in MOFs, researchers can now design MOFs with larger pores and higher surface areas, which will allow them to store more gas.

The study also has implications for the use of MOFs in other applications, such as drug delivery and catalysis. By understanding how gases are stored in MOFs, researchers can now design MOFs that can be used to store and release drugs or catalyze chemical reactions.

The study was led by Professor Omar Yaghi, a world-renowned expert in the field of MOF research. Professor Yaghi said, "This study challenges the prevailing view on how MOFs store gases, and it has important implications for the design and development of MOFs for gas storage and other applications."

The study was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy.