Chemistry Nobel Award Honors 3 Scientists for Innovative Work on Metal-Organic Frameworks
The prestigious award in the field of chemistry is given to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M Yaghi for their foundational research on MOFs.
Their studies may help tackle some of the pressing worldwide challenges, including CO2 capture to combat environmental shifts or curbing plastic waste through sophisticated chemical processes.
“It’s a profound honor and pleasure, thank you,” remarked Professor Kitagawa in a phone call to the media event subsequent to learning the decision.
“What’s the duration I need to remain? I have an appointment to attend,” the laureate continued.
The 3 laureates will share prize money of 11 million Swedish kronor (about £872k).
Structural Design at the Center of their Achievement
Their scientists' research involves how chemical compounds are built together into complex networks. The selection panel termed it “structural molecular engineering”.
The experts developed approaches to create structures with considerable spaces between the units, allowing different compounds to flow within them.
Such compounds are called metal-organic materials.
This reveal was delivered by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences during a press event in the Swedish capital.
Professor Kitagawa is based at Kyoto University in Japan, Professor Richard Robson works for the University of Melbourne in the Australian continent, and Omar Yaghi is at the UC in the United States.
Previous Nobel Recipients in Scientific Fields
Last year, three other scientists won the honor for their research on proteins, which are essential building blocks of biological systems.
It is the third scientific award given recently. Previously, John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis earned the physics award for their contributions on subatomic physics that paved the way for the advancement of the quantum computing system.
Earlier, 3 experts' work on how the biological immunity attacks hostile infections secured them the prize for medicine.
A single laureate, Dr. Ramsdell, missed the notification for 20 hours because he was on an remote trek.
