Chemistry Nobel Award Honors 3 Experts for Innovative Research on MOF Structures
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to three distinguished scientists for their seminal contributions on MOFs.
Their studies may help address numerous significant global challenges, including CO2 capture to fight global warming or minimizing plastic pollution through sophisticated chemistry.
“It’s a profound honor and pleasure, thank you,” said Prof. Kitagawa during a phone call with the news conference after learning the announcement.
“How much time must I spend here? I need to leave for a scheduled meeting,” he noted.
These three winners receive monetary reward of 11 million Swedish kronor (about £872k).
Structural Design on a Core of their Achievement
Their researchers' research involves how molecules can be assembled together into complex frameworks. The selection panel termed it “structural molecular engineering”.
These scientists developed methods to construct frameworks with substantial spaces between the units, enabling various substances to pass through them.
These structures are referred to as metal-organic frameworks.
The reveal was made by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences during a news conference in the Swedish capital.
Prof. Kitagawa works at Kyoto University in the Asian nation, Richard Robson is at the University of Melbourne in Australia, and Professor Omar M. Yaghi is connected to the California University in the United States.
Previous Award Laureates in Science Fields
During the prior award cycle, Demis Hassabis, John Jumper, and David Baker won the award for their studies on biological molecules, which are critical building blocks of biological systems.
This is the 3rd scientific award awarded recently. Earlier this week, John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on quantum theory that facilitated the development of the quantum computing system.
Earlier, three scientists investigations on how the biological immunity combats pathogens secured them the prize for medicine.
One recipient, Dr Fred Ramsdell, missed the notification for a full day because he was on an off-grid trek.
