Nobel Prize in Chemistry Honors 3 Experts for Innovative Work on Framework Materials
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M Yaghi for their influential research on MOFs.
Their studies has potential to address numerous pressing global challenges, such as CO2 capture to combat global warming or reducing plastic waste through sophisticated chemical processes.
“It’s a profound honor and pleasure, thank you,” said the Japanese scientist during a telephone conversation with the media event subsequent to receiving the news.
“How much time must I spend here? I need to leave for a scheduled meeting,” the laureate added.
The 3 winners receive award funds amounting to 11 mln SEK (£872,000).
Molecular Architecture at the Heart of their Discovery
Their researchers' work focuses on how molecules are structured in unison into intricate structures. The Nobel committee termed it “molecular design”.
The experts formulated approaches to build structures with considerable spaces amid the units, enabling gases and other chemicals to travel via them.
These structures are referred to as MOFs.
This reveal was made by the academic institution in a press event in Stockholm.
Professor Kitagawa is based at the University of Kyoto in the Asian nation, Professor Richard Robson works for the University of Melbourne in the Australian continent, and Prof. Yaghi is connected to the University of California in the USA.
Previous Nobel Recipients in Science Fields
Last year, Demis Hassabis, John Jumper, and David Baker won the honor for their work on protein structures, which are critical building blocks of living organisms.
It is the 3rd scientific prize awarded in the current week. On Tuesday, three physicists earned the Nobel Prize in Physics for their research on subatomic physics that enabled the creation of the quantum computer.
Earlier, three experts' work on how the biological immunity attacks harmful microbes secured them the prize for medicine.
One recipient, Dr Fred Ramsdell, was unaware of the news for nearly a day because he was on an remote hiking trip.
