The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been jointly awarded to Susumu Kitagawa of Kyoto University, Japan, Richard Robson of the University of Melbourne, Australia, and Omar M Yaghi of the University of California, Berkeley, USA, for their groundbreaking contributions to the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).
These innovative materials, described as a revolutionary class with molecular structures containing “rooms for chemistry,” have transformed materials science and opened new avenues for addressing global sustainability challenges.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognised the trio “for the development of metal-organic frameworks,” which are crystalline materials formed by linking metal ions with organic molecules to create highly porous structures.
These nanoscopic frameworks are capable of trapping, storing, and manipulating gases and molecules, offering significant potential for applications such as capturing greenhouse gases, purifying water, catalysing chemical reactions, and storing hydrogen fuel.
The unique design of MOFs, with their vast internal surface areas, allows gases like carbon dioxide, methane, or water vapour to flow through their tiny cavities, enabling a range of tailored chemical functions. Scientists describe these materials as “molecular architecture with purpose-built rooms” that facilitate new forms of chemistry within their structures.
The development of MOFs began in 1989 with Richard Robson’s experiments, which involved assembling copper ions and complex organic molecules into spacious crystalline frameworks. Although these early structures were unstable, they laid the foundation for future advancements.
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In the 1990s, Susumu Kitagawa demonstrated that these frameworks could absorb and release gases, highlighting their potential flexibility. Omar Yaghi later advanced the field by engineering the first highly stable MOFs and introducing rational design principles, enabling chemists to customise these materials for specific properties.
Heiner Linke, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, stated, “Metal-organic frameworks have enormous potential, bringing previously unforeseen opportunities for custom-made materials with new functions.” Since these initial breakthroughs, chemists have synthesised tens of thousands of MOFs, which have been applied in diverse areas, including carbon dioxide capture, toxic pollutant filtration, water harvesting from desert air, and efficient chemical conversion.
The work of the 2025 Chemistry laureates has not only revolutionised materials science but also provided sustainable solutions to some of humanity’s most critical environmental and energy challenges, paving the way for innovative applications in the fight against climate change and resource scarcity.
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