Nobel Prize in Chemistry Celebrates Three Scientists for Innovative Research on MOF Structures

This year's prestigious award in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M Yaghi for their seminal work on porous materials.

The scientists' investigations may help solve numerous significant planetary issues, for instance trapping greenhouse gases to combat global warming or minimizing plastic pollution through advanced chemistry.

“I'm deeply honoured and delighted, thank you very much,” said Professor Kitagawa during a call with the press briefing after receiving the decision.

“How much time must I spend here? I need to leave for a scheduled meeting,” he added.

These three recipients are splitting monetary reward of SEK 11 million (£872,000).

Structural Design on a Center of their Discovery

Their researchers' studies focuses on how molecules are structured in unison into elaborate networks. The Nobel committee referred to it as “molecular design”.

These professors devised approaches to construct frameworks with large voids between the units, enabling various substances to flow via them.

These materials are called metal-organic frameworks.

This announcement was delivered by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences at a media briefing in Stockholm.

Professor Kitagawa works at the University of Kyoto in the Asian nation, Professor Richard Robson works for the Melbourne University in Australia, and Prof. Yaghi resides at the California University in the USA.

Previous Award Laureates in Scientific Categories

During the prior award cycle, Demis Hassabis, John Jumper, and David Baker received the prize for their research on proteins, which are essential components of life.

This is the 3rd scientific prize presented recently. Earlier this week, John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis received the Physics Nobel for their work on subatomic physics that paved the way for the development of the quantum processor.

On Monday, three experts' work on how the immune system targets harmful microbes won them the award for physiology.

A single laureate, Dr. Ramsdell, did not receive the announcement for a full day because he was on an disconnected outing.