New nanomaterial fabric can destroy toxic nerve agents on the battlefield

A group of scientists from Northwestern University (NU; IL, USA) have developed a nanomaterial combined with textile fibers, which is effective at destroying toxic nerve agents. The composite material shows promise for use in the manufacture of protective clothing to be used by people working in hazardous conditions, including chemical warfare. The material is made up of a zirconium-based metal-organic framework (MOF) and has the ability to degrade extremely toxic chemical agents – such as VX and soman (GD) – in a matter of minutes. "With the correct chemistry, we can render toxic gases nontoxic," explained Omar Farha of Weinberg...