Nobel Prize in Chemistry Recognizes 3 Experts for Pioneering Research on MOF Structures
The prestigious award in Chemistry has been awarded to three distinguished scientists for their seminal work on metal-organic frameworks.
The scientists' research may help tackle some of the pressing planetary issues, for instance capturing carbon dioxide to combat global warming or minimizing plastic pollution through advanced chemistry.
“I'm deeply honoured and delighted, thank you very much,” stated Prof. Kitagawa during a phone call with the press briefing subsequent to hearing the news.
“How much time must I spend here? I need to leave for a scheduled meeting,” the laureate continued.
The three laureates receive prize money amounting to SEK 11 million (£872,000).
Framework Construction on a Center of the Discovery
Their researchers' studies involves how molecular units are built together into intricate structures. Award organizers described it as “molecular architecture”.
The experts formulated techniques to build structures with considerable spaces amid the molecules, enabling gases and other chemicals to travel through them.
These compounds are referred to as MOFs.
The announcement was presented by the Swedish scientific body during a news conference in the Swedish capital.
Professor Kitagawa is affiliated with Kyoto University in Japan, Prof. Robson works for the University of Melbourne in the Australian continent, and Professor Omar M. Yaghi resides at the University of California in the US.
Recent Award Recipients in Science Categories
During the prior award cycle, Demis Hassabis, John Jumper, and David Baker received the prize for their research on protein structures, which are critical building blocks of biological systems.
It is the third scientific recognition given in the current week. Earlier this week, John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their research on quantum mechanics that facilitated the creation of the quantum computer.
At the start of the week, three scientists studies on how the immune system attacks pathogens secured them the honor for medicine.
A single laureate, Fred Ramsdell, was unaware of the announcement for 20 hours because he was on an disconnected hiking trip.
