The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa from Kyoto University, Richard Robson from the University of Melbourne, and Omar Yaghi from the University of California, Berkeley. They were recognized for their contributions to the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), innovative porous materials that have potential applications in various fields, such as water harvesting from desert air, carbon dioxide capture in industrial settings, and toxin removal from water.
The prize, which amounts to 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately £871,400), was presented by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm. The scientists’ work involved combining metal ions with organic molecules to create structures with high porosity, allowing liquids and gases to flow through them. The discovery has led to the production of tens of thousands of these materials, which can be utilized for purposes ranging from hydrogen storage to the extraction of rare earth metals from waste.
Prof. Heiner Linke, chair of the Nobel committee for chemistry, highlighted the novel nature of these materials, describing them as having large internal cavities that can accommodate “guest” molecules. He likened their storage capacity to a fictional magical bag.
The research into MOFs began in 1989 with Richard Robson, who synthesized pyramid-shaped molecules that formed unstable crystals. Further contributions from Kitagawa and Yaghi stabilized these frameworks, allowing them to perform multiple functions, such as storing and releasing different gases.
Kitagawa expressed his honor at receiving the prize and articulated a vision for utilizing MOFs to extract carbon and oxygen from the air, transforming them into useful materials. Yaghi’s interest in chemistry began in childhood, leading him to develop a precise method for creating large crystal-like structures, including a zinc-based MOF that demonstrated remarkable gas absorption properties.
With this award, the scientific community acknowledges the significant potential of metal-organic frameworks in various applications, including carbon capture and drug delivery.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/oct/08/nobel-prize-in-chemistry-awarded-to-scientists-for-work-on-porous-materials