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. 2025 Aug;21(33):e2411108.
doi: 10.1002/smll.202411108. Epub 2025 Jul 2.

MOF-74 Nanofibers as an Advanced Porous Material for Air-Bearing Technology

Jacopo Andreo  1 , Xiangjiang Yu  1 , Ekaterina Chernova  1 , Stefan Wuttke  1   2
Affiliations

MOF-74 Nanofibers as an Advanced Porous Material for Air-Bearing Technology

Jacopo Andreo et al. Small. 2025 Aug.

Abstract

Aerostatic bearings are an important technology that utilizes a thin film of pressurized air between bearing surfaces to enable frictionless movement. In this work, the use of MOF-74 (Cu) fibers as an innovative material for porous restrictors in aerostatic bearing devices is proposed. MOF-74 (Cu) fibers are synthesized using a newly developed, green, template-free approach that produces ultra-long and robust fibers with excellent mechanical properties. These fibers can be easily processed into free-standing films and composites, offering a scalable and cost-effective method for producing air-bearing pucks. Tests under operational conditions for low-pressure air bearings demonstrate the reliable structural and mechanical strength of the MOF-74 (Cu) fibers, positioning them as a promising alternative to traditional bearing materials. This advancement not only sparks the development of air-bearing technology, but also broadens the potential for MOFs in real-world applications, paving the way for green and sustainable manufacturing solutions.

Keywords: MOF‐74; air‐bearings; fibers; nanofibers; porous composites; self‐assembly.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview and novelty of the work.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The parameters studied in the synthesis of MOF‐74 (Cu) fibers.
Figure 3
Figure 3
SEM images of the time‐dependent growth of MOF‐74 (Cu) nanofibers from 0.5 h to 7 days.
Figure 4
Figure 4
SEM and photo images of MOF‐74 (Cu) webs, casted with a different number of layers.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Cylindrical sheet forming: a) mandrel; b) mandrel with attached film; c) free standing shaped film, external surface; d) free standing shaped film, internal surface; e) free standing shaped film, cross section. Sheet forming over an M5×0.8 bolt template: f) mandrel; g) mandrel with attached film; h) free standing shaped film, internal surface; i) optical 10x zoom of internal surface.
Figure 6
Figure 6
SEM images of MOF‐74(Cu) and Nylon fibers composite web.
Figure 7
Figure 7
MOF air bearing prototype and cross‐section scheme of the bearing.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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