Molecule Masters: Trio Wins Nobel in Chemistry for Metal-Organic Framework Breakthrough
Three pioneering scientists have been awarded this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry for “rewriting the rules of chemistry” through their groundbreaking development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The laureates are Susumu Kitagawa of Japan, Richard Robson of Australia, and Omar M. Yaghi of the United States.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the winners on Wednesday, October 8, at 3:45 p.m. Bangladesh time, from Stockholm, Sweden.
The three scientists jointly received the prize for their invention of metal-organic frameworks — a class of compounds known for their vast internal spaces that allow gases and other chemical substances to pass through easily.
Professor Susumu Kitagawa is affiliated with Kyoto University in Japan, Professor Richard Robson with the University of Melbourne in Australia, and Professor Omar M. Yaghi with the University of California in the United States.
According to the Nobel Committee, “These scientists have created molecular structures with exceptionally large internal spaces through which various gases and chemical substances can easily move.” Their work has opened new frontiers in chemistry, with potential applications in energy storage, catalysis, and environmental sustainability.
