Chemistry Nobel Award Honors Three Researchers for Pioneering Research on Metal-Organic Frameworks
The prestigious award in the field of chemistry has been awarded to three distinguished scientists for their seminal work on porous materials.
The scientists' research has potential to address numerous pressing global issues, such as CO2 capture to address environmental shifts or curbing plastic pollution through sophisticated chemistry.
“I'm deeply honoured and delighted, thank you very much,” stated Prof. Kitagawa during a call to the press briefing subsequent to learning the news.
“How long do I have to stay here? Because I have to go out for a meeting,” the laureate continued.
The 3 winners will share prize money totaling 11 mln SEK (about £872k).
Structural Design at the Center of the Discovery
Their scientists' studies involves how molecules are structured together into elaborate structures. The selection panel referred to it as “structural molecular engineering”.
These professors developed methods to create frameworks with large gaps amid the units, allowing different compounds to flow through them.
Such structures are called MOFs.
The declaration was delivered by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences at a news conference in Stockholm, Sweden.
Professor Kitagawa is based at the University of Kyoto in Japan, Prof. Robson is at the Melbourne University in Australia, and Omar Yaghi resides at the UC in the USA.
Recent Award Recipients in Scientific Categories
In the previous year, three other scientists were granted the award for their research on biological molecules, which are essential building blocks of life.
It is the third science recognition presented this week. On Tuesday, John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on subatomic physics that facilitated the advancement of the quantum processor.
On Monday, three scientists work on how the biological immunity attacks hostile infections secured them the honor for physiology.
A single recipient, Fred Ramsdell, was unaware of the notification for nearly a day because he was on an disconnected hiking trip.
