Chemistry Nobel Award Recognizes Three Scientists for Pioneering Work on MOF Structures
The prestigious award in the field of chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M Yaghi for their foundational contributions on metal-organic frameworks.
The scientists' investigations has potential to tackle some of the major planetary problems, for instance trapping greenhouse gases to combat environmental shifts or minimizing synthetic debris through sophisticated chemical processes.
“I feel tremendously honored and overjoyed, many thanks,” stated the Japanese scientist via a phone call with the press briefing after receiving the announcement.
“What’s the duration I need to remain? I have an appointment to attend,” he noted.
The 3 winners will share prize money totaling 11 million Swedish kronor (about £872k).
Molecular Architecture on a Core of their Achievement
The researchers' research centers around how chemical compounds can be assembled collectively into elaborate structures. The Nobel committee described it as “molecular design”.
These experts devised methods to build assemblies with substantial voids among the units, allowing gases and other chemicals to pass within them.
Such compounds are called metal-organic frameworks.
This announcement was made by the academic institution at a news conference in Stockholm.
Professor Kitagawa is based at Kyoto University in the Asian nation, Professor Richard Robson is at the Melbourne University in Australia, and Omar Yaghi resides at the University of California in the US.
Earlier Award Recipients in Science Categories
In the previous year, Demis Hassabis, John Jumper, and David Baker received the award for their studies on proteins, which are critical components of biological systems.
This is the 3rd scientific recognition presented in the current week. Previously, John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis received the Physics Nobel for their work on quantum theory that facilitated the development of the quantum computing system.
On Monday, 3 researchers investigations on how the biological immunity targets harmful microbes secured them the award for medicine.
One winner, Fred Ramsdell, missed the news for 20 hours because he was on an remote outing.
