Nobel Prize in Chemistry Honors Three Experts for Pioneering Research on Framework Materials
The prestigious award in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M Yaghi for their seminal work on MOFs.
The scientists' research may help address numerous significant global issues, such as capturing carbon dioxide to address climate change or reducing plastic waste through advanced chemical processes.
“It’s a profound honor and pleasure, thank you,” said Prof. Kitagawa in a call to the news conference subsequent to learning the announcement.
“How much time must I spend here? I need to leave for a scheduled meeting,” he noted.
The 3 winners will share monetary reward amounting to 11 mln SEK (£872,000).
Structural Design at the Center of their Discovery
Their researchers' studies involves how molecular units are structured together into complex networks. The Nobel committee described it as “structural molecular engineering”.
The professors developed techniques to construct frameworks with considerable spaces between the units, permitting various substances to pass within them.
These materials are referred to as metal-organic frameworks.
The announcement was presented by the academic institution during a media briefing in Stockholm, Sweden.
Professor Kitagawa is affiliated with Kyoto University in Japan, Richard Robson works for the University of Melbourne in the Australian continent, and Prof. Yaghi resides at the California University in the USA.
Recent Award Recipients in Science Categories
During the prior award cycle, three other scientists won the prize for their studies on proteins, which are fundamental components of life.
It is the third science award presented this week. On Tuesday, John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on quantum mechanics that paved the way for the creation of the quantum processor.
On Monday, three experts' work on how the immune system combats pathogens won them the prize for physiology.
A single winner, Dr Fred Ramsdell, missed the news for a full day because he was on an off-grid outing.
