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The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for their groundbreaking research on Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) — a revolutionary class of materials that could transform energy storage, water purification, and environmental sustainability.
According to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the trio’s discovery opened a new frontier in material chemistry. MOFs are crystal-like structures made from metal atoms linked by organic molecules, creating vast internal pores. These ultra-porous materials can trap and store gases such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and even water vapor — offering powerful tools to fight climate change and enable clean energy technologies.
The Academy described MOFs as “materials that can hold the world inside them,” comparing them to Hermione’s handbag from Harry Potter because of their ability to store large volumes in a small space.
Richard Robson, from Australia, laid the foundation of this field in the late 1980s with his work on coordination polymers. Susumu Kitagawa, from Japan, later developed methods to stabilize these materials and improve gas absorption. Omar M. Yaghi, an American chemist of Jordanian origin, refined the concept further, designing MOFs with specific, tunable properties for industrial and environmental uses.
In a statement, Nobel Committee Chair Heiner Linke said,
“Their discoveries have unlocked new possibilities in chemistry — from capturing greenhouse gases to creating clean drinking water from dry air.”
This year’s Chemistry Nobel highlights the growing importance of materials science in addressing global challenges such as climate change, energy efficiency, and sustainable development.
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