Room Temperature Reduction of Nitrogen Oxide on Iron Metal-Organic Frameworks

Nitrogen oxides represent one of the main threats for the environment. Despite decades of intensive research efforts, a sustainable solution for NO_x removal under environmental conditions is still undefined. Using theoretical modelling, material design, state-of-the-art investigation methods and mimicking enzymes, it is found that selected porous hybrid iron(II/III) based MOF material are able to decompose NO_x, at room temperature, in the presence of water and oxygen, into N₂ and O₂ and without reducing agents. This paves the way to the development of new highly sustainable heterogeneous catalysts to improve air quality.