Chemistry Nobel Award Recognizes Three Scientists for Innovative Studies on Metal-Organic Frameworks
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to three distinguished scientists for their seminal work on MOFs.
Their research could be applied to address some of the significant worldwide challenges, including trapping greenhouse gases to address climate change or reducing plastic waste through innovative chemistry.
“I'm deeply honoured and delighted, thank you very much,” remarked the Japanese scientist during a call with the news conference subsequent to hearing the news.
“How much time must I spend here? I need to leave for a scheduled meeting,” the laureate added.
These three recipients will share monetary reward amounting to SEK 11 million (about £872k).
Structural Design at the Heart of their Discovery
The scientists' work centers around how molecular units are structured collectively into intricate networks. Award organizers described it as “molecular design”.
These experts developed methods to construct assemblies with considerable voids amid the units, permitting gases and other chemicals to pass via them.
These structures are called metal-organic materials.
The reveal was delivered by the Swedish scientific body at a news conference in the Swedish capital.
Susumu Kitagawa works at the University of Kyoto in Japan, Prof. Robson works for the University of Melbourne in Australia, and Omar Yaghi is at the UC in the US.
Previous Nobel Recipients in Science Fields
Last year, three other scientists won the award for their studies on protein structures, which are essential elements of biological systems.
This is the 3rd science prize presented this week. On Tuesday, three physicists won the Physics Nobel for their research on quantum theory that paved the way for the advancement of the quantum computing system.
On Monday, three experts' work on how the biological immunity targets harmful microbes secured them the prize for medicine.
A single winner, Dr Fred Ramsdell, was unaware of the notification for nearly a day because he was on an remote outing.