NEWS – The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for their groundbreaking work on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), a field that originated in 1989. The award recognizes their development of a new form of molecular architecture.

HIGHLIGHTS

Key Highlights of the Discovery

• Metal–organic frameworks are molecular constructions with large internal spaces through which gases and chemicals can flow.
• These frameworks can be used for:
  • Harvesting water from desert air
  • Capturing carbon dioxide
  • Storing toxic gases
  • Catalyzing chemical reactions
• The structures are stable and versatile, comparable to the timber framework of a house, enabling precise design of materials with custom functions.

About the Laureates

• Richard Robson (88) – University of Melbourne, Australia
• Susumu Kitagawa (74) – Kyoto University, Japan
• Omar M. Yaghi (60) – University of California, Berkeley, USA
• The scientists worked independently but built upon each other’s breakthroughs to devise practical and stable MOFs.

Significance and Applications

• MOFs open doors to previously unforeseen opportunities in materials science.
• Nobel Committee highlighted their potential as compact structures with enormous internal capacity, likened to a “Harry Potter enchanted handbag.”
• Applications range from environmental solutions like carbon capture to industrial catalysis.

Additional Context

• Between 1901–2024, 116 chemistry prizes were awarded to 195 individuals.
• The awards ceremony is scheduled for 10 December, marking the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death (1896). Nobel, a Swedish industrialist, is also the inventor of dynamite.