Topology-Enhanced Diffusion of Chemical Warfare Agents in Metal-Organic Frameworks for Detoxification

Developing an efficient material that can capture and/or deactivate chemical warfare agents (CWAs) is required for emerging protective suits and masks. Many reactive materials which have been considered for application such as metal-oxides, activated carbon and metal-organic frameworks are powder material which is challenging to incorporate into fibers and films. Here, we will design processable, yet porous, polymeric materials and decorate their pores and surfaces with reactive functional groups that can react with CWAs. These polymers will be formed into films and fibers to test their reactivity as well as their mechanical properties which are two important criteria for this application. The data obtained from this study will guide us to design highly efficient reactive materials that can be utilized in protective gears.