Or Niklas Elmed / Nobel Prize Outreach
Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi, Nobel Prize winners in Chemistry 2025
Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi created a new type of molecular architecture, so-called “metal-organic structures” that contain large cavities through which molecules can enter and exit.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Susumu Kitagawafrom Kyoto University, Richard Robsonfrom the University of Melbourne, and Omar M. Yaghifrom the University of California, “for the development of metal-organic structures”, announced today the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi have developed a new form of molecular architecture – metal-organic frameworks – that can be used to collect water from the desert aircapture carbon dioxide, store toxic gases or catalyze chemical reactions.
The three laureates created molecular constructions with large spaces through which gases and other chemicals can flow.
The chairman of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, Heiner Linquehighlighted precisely the fact that these “metal-organic structures have enormous potential, bringing previously unforeseen opportunities for personalized materials with new functions”.
“In their constructions, the metallic ions function as cornerstones linked by long organic molecules. Together, metal ions and molecules are organized to form crystals that contain large cavities. These porous materials are called metal-organic structures (MOF)”, says the Nobel Committee in .
“By varying the building blocks used in MOFs, chemists can design them to capture and store specific substances. MOFs can also drive chemical reactions or conduct electricity,” the note adds.
The research that led to the discovery of this new form of molecular architecture began about four decades ago, in 1989, when Richard Robson tested the use of the inherent properties of atoms by combining positively charged copper ions with a four-armed molecule.
When combined, they bonded “to form a spacious crystal and well ordered. Was like a diamond full of countless cavities”, explains the academy.
Robson immediately realized the potential of his molecular constructionbut it was still unstable and fell apart easily. It was chemists Susumu Kitagawa and Omar Yaghi who managed to provide a solid foundation for this construction method.
Between 1992 and 2003, separately made a series of discoveries revolutionary: Kitagawa showed that gases can enter and leave buildings and predicted that MOFs could be flexible; Yaghi created a very stable MOF and showed that it can be modified using rational design, giving it new and desirable properties.
After the discoveries of the three now laureate researchers, chemists built tens of thousands of different MOF.
Some of them may contribute to solve some of the biggest challenges of humanity, with applications including decomposing traces of pharmaceuticals in the environment, capturing carbon dioxide or collecting water from desert air.
The discovery also allows the separation of perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) from water. PFAS are a group of synthetic chemical compounds known as “” due to their extreme persistence in the environment and in the human body.
PFAS are used in a wide range of industrial products and household, such as stain- and water-resistant textiles, food packaging, non-stick cookware and firefighting foams.
Its accumulation in the environment and potential health risksincluding liver damage and other problems, have led to concerns and a search for safer alternatives.
This is the third of the 2025 Nobel Prizes to be announced, after being announced this week for the discovery of macroscopic quantum tunneling and for advances in understanding the immune system.
The awards for Literature and Peace will follow in the next few days. Prize for Economic Sciences or Economicscreated in honor of Alfred Nobel and awarded since 1969, is announced on October 14th.
