Opinion: Programmable smart sponges could be AI’s cleanest bet
August 17, 2026
August 17, 2026
Northwestern Chemistry’s Omar Farha, along with Haley Wellman, Manel Eddaoudi and Xiaoliang Wang, explores how metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs, could help reduce the environmental demands of artificial intelligence in a new Crain’s Chicago Business opinion piece. Often described as “smart sponges,” MOFs can be designed to capture, store and release specific molecules. The authors look at how these materials could support carbon capture, more efficient data-center cooling and atmospheric water harvesting as AI drives growing demand for electricity and water.