The money in the molecular grid: Materials science

Metaphors are a great way to explain complex terms in relatable language. When awarding this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences members and commentators applied no less than five different creative analogies to describe the groundbreaking research on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that took home the prize. Indulge us while we dwell on these mental images for a spell:

• Like “Hermione’s handbag or Mary Poppins’ carpet bag”, MOFs look small on the outside but are vast on the inside. The large internal surface area of MOFs allows them to store immense quantities of gas in a tiny volume.
  
• Like “rooms in a hotel”, there are cavities within the molecular structure of MOFs. Gas molecules or other chemicals can check in and out of these tiny, well-ordered “rooms”.
  
• Molecular architects: The laureates were described as designers who build molecular-scale structures. In this analogy, metal ions serve as the “cornerstones” and long organic molecules act as the “links” to build crystals with large cavities.
  
• “A molecular sponge”: This analogy emphasizes the porous and absorbent nature of MOFs, which can soak up and contain gases and liquids.
  
• The TARDIS from Doctor Who: Like Hermione’s bag, the TARDIS from the science-fiction series is also famously “bigger on the inside” and was used to describe the surprising interior volume of MOFs.