Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 8: The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to three pioneering scientists — Susumu Kitagawa (Japan), Richard Robson (Australia), and Omar M. Yaghi (United States) — for their groundbreaking work in the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a new class of porous materials with wide-ranging applications.
Announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the trio was recognised “for the development of metal-organic frameworks,” innovative molecular structures that allow gases and chemicals to pass through their internal cavities. These frameworks are revolutionising material science with uses in carbon capture, water harvesting from arid air, gas storage, environmental cleanup, and more.
The laureates created crystal-like structures by linking metal ions (which act as nodes) with long carbon-based organic molecules. These frameworks form materials with highly porous architectures, capable of holding and separating substances with precision — likened to molecular "sponges" or "storage containers."
“MOFs offer customisable molecular structures, unlocking previously unthinkable possibilities for creating materials with specific, targeted functions,” said Heiner Linke, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.
Since these initial discoveries, chemists around the world have synthesized tens of thousands of MOF variants. Their practical applications now span areas such as:
• Capturing and storing carbon dioxide to combat climate change
• Filtering PFAS and pharmaceuticals from contaminated water
• Catalysing chemical reactions more efficiently
• Storing toxic or flammable gases safely
• Extracting water from desert air, addressing clean water scarcity
Meet the Nobel Laureates
• Susumu Kitagawa, born in 1951 in Kyoto, Japan, is a professor at Kyoto University and earned his doctorate there in 1979.
• Richard Robson, born in 1937 in Glusburn, UK, received his doctorate from Oxford University in 1962. He currently serves as a professor at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
• Omar M. Yaghi, born in 1965 in Amman, Jordan, completed his PhD at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1990. He is now a professor at the University of California, Berkeley.
The trio will share the 11 million Swedish kronor (approx. USD 1 million) prize equally.
The Nobel Committee emphasised that MOFs are not just a scientific achievement but a practical tool in addressing some of the greatest global challenges, from climate change to clean water access, showcasing how molecular design can directly impact real-world problems.