The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi for their work in creating a revolutionary new class of materials called Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), which hold the potential to solve major global challenges.
The Breakthrough: Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
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What They Are: MOFs are molecular constructions with large internal, porous spaces through which gases and other chemicals can flow.
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“Unheard Of Properties”: The award committee noted that MOFs possess a remarkably large surface area. A porous material the size of a sugar cube could have the surface area of an entire football pitch, allowing them to store huge amounts of gas in a tiny volume—likened to “Hermione’s handbag in Harry Potter.”
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Practical Applications: The materials are seen as critical tools for tackling issues like climate change and water scarcity.
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Climate & Air: MOFs can be used to capture carbon dioxide (already being implemented in cement manufacturing, a major industrial polluter) and store toxic gases. Kitagawa expressed his dream of using them to separate and convert air components into useful materials using renewable energy.
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Water & Environment: They can be utilized to harvest fresh water from desert air and separate harmful substances, such as toxic PFAS (“forever chemicals”), from water, as well as breaking down pharmaceutical traces in the environment.
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The Laureates and Their Journey
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The Winners: The recipients are Susumu Kitagawa (Kyoto University, Japan), Richard Robson (University of Melbourne, Australia), and Omar Yaghi (University of California, Berkeley, US). They will share the prize money of 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million).
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The American Dream: Yaghi, a Jordanian-American born to Palestinian refugees, shared a compelling story of his journey, stating that his love of molecules began at age 10. He highlighted that “Science is the greatest equalising force in the world,” emphasizing how the field allowed him to rise despite his parents having been illiterate.
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A Quiet Celebration: Robson received the news a half-hour before the official announcement and celebrated at home with his wife, breaking a recent alcohol ban for his health with “a glass of very cheap wine” after preparing dinner and doing the washing up.
This prize recognizes the laureates’ fundamental discoveries that have enabled chemists to build tens of thousands of different MOFs, laying the groundwork for materials that may help solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.
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