Chemistry Nobel Award Honors 3 Scientists for Innovative Studies on Metal-Organic Frameworks
The prestigious award in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M Yaghi for their foundational research on MOFs.
The scientists' research may help address some of the significant planetary issues, for instance trapping greenhouse gases to fight environmental shifts or reducing plastic pollution through advanced chemical processes.
“I feel tremendously honored and overjoyed, many thanks,” said the Japanese scientist in a telephone conversation to the news conference following learning the decision.
“How much time must I spend here? I need to leave for a scheduled meeting,” he continued.
The three winners will share prize money totaling 11 mln SEK (about £872k).
Framework Construction on a Core of the Breakthrough
Their scientists' research involves how chemical compounds are built in unison into intricate frameworks. Award organizers termed it “molecular architecture”.
The experts formulated approaches to construct frameworks with substantial spaces amid the molecules, enabling various substances to travel via them.
These materials are known as metal-organic materials.
The declaration was made by the academic institution during a media briefing in Stockholm.
Prof. Kitagawa is affiliated with Kyoto University in the Asian nation, Prof. Robson is at the University of Melbourne in the Australian continent, and Prof. Yaghi resides at the California University in the US.
Earlier Award Recipients in Scientific Fields
During the prior award cycle, Demis Hassabis, John Jumper, and David Baker won the honor for their work on proteins, which are fundamental components of life.
It is the third scientific recognition given in the current week. Previously, three physicists earned the Physics Nobel for their work on quantum theory that enabled the development of the quantum computing system.
Earlier, three scientists studies on how the immune system attacks hostile infections won them the award for medicine.
One winner, Dr Fred Ramsdell, did not receive the notification for nearly a day because he was on an off-grid trek.