With strong ties to NorthWestern University, NuMat Technologies, Inc is a cleantech spin-out that computationally designs and synthesizes high performing nanomaterials for gas storage and separation applications. NuMat is commercializing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a new kind of nanoporous material that will change how the world stores, transports, and separates gases. Because molecules of gas stick strongly to the surface of their pores, MOFs soak up gases, just like a bath sponge soaks up water. MOFs are inexpensive, simple to manufacture, and can be custom designed at the atomic level for specific applications. NuMat has developed MOFs that enable the production of low-pressure Adsorbed Natural Gas fuel tanks for natural gas vehicles that are cheaper, safer, and have higher capacity than existing high-pressure Compressed Natural Gas tanks. For example, our MOFs can store the equivalent amount of natural gas, but at one-fifth the pressure—fundamentally changing the economics of natural gas vehicles and supporting the gradual displacement of foreign oil. NuMat is the Grand Prize Winner of the Clean Energy Trust Challenge (sponsored by the Energy Department) and the recipient of the Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers CleanTech Innovation Prize
