INT, KIT

October 14, 2025

Water is everywhere – it covers the major part of Earth, circulates in the human body, and is found even in the smallest molecular clefts. However, what happens if water cannot flow freely, but is enclosed in such structures? Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Constructor University in Bremen proved for the first time that enclosed water can influence its surroundings and favors binding between molecules. This discovery could open new paths for the design of drugs and new materials. The researchers report on their findings in the International Edition of the “Angewandte Chemie” journal. (DOI: 10.1002/anie.202505713)

Lena Pilz, KIT

June 06, 2025

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)