Chemistry Nobel Award Celebrates Three Experts for Groundbreaking Studies on Metal-Organic Frameworks
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to three distinguished scientists for their influential contributions on MOFs.
Their research could be applied to tackle some of the pressing global issues, such as trapping greenhouse gases to combat global warming or curbing plastic waste through innovative chemical processes.
“It’s a profound honor and pleasure, thank you,” said Prof. Kitagawa during a phone call to the news conference following hearing the decision.
“How long do I have to stay here? Because I have to go out for a meeting,” he added.
The 3 winners receive prize money amounting to SEK 11 million (£872,000).
Framework Construction on a Core of their Discovery
The scientists' studies focuses on how chemical compounds are built collectively into elaborate frameworks. The Nobel committee referred to it as “structural molecular engineering”.
The scientists formulated techniques to create structures with large voids amid the units, allowing gases and other chemicals to flow via them.
Such compounds are called metal-organic materials.
The announcement was delivered by the academic institution during a media briefing in Stockholm, Sweden.
Prof. Kitagawa is affiliated with Kyoto University in Japan, Professor Richard Robson is at the University of Melbourne in the Australian continent, and Omar Yaghi is at the California University in the US.
Recent Award Laureates in Scientific Categories
In the previous year, three other scientists won the award for their work on biological molecules, which are fundamental elements of biological systems.
This is the 3rd science prize awarded in the current week. Previously, three physicists won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their contributions on quantum theory that paved the way for the development of the quantum computer.
At the start of the week, 3 experts' work on how the immune system attacks hostile infections won them the honor for medicine.
A single recipient, Fred Ramsdell, missed the news for 20 hours because he was on an disconnected trek.