Chemistry Nobel Award Celebrates Three Scientists for Pioneering Work on Metal-Organic Frameworks
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry is given to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M Yaghi for their seminal work on MOFs.
The scientists' studies could be applied to tackle some of the pressing worldwide issues, for instance capturing carbon dioxide to address global warming or minimizing synthetic debris through sophisticated scientific methods.
“It’s a profound honor and pleasure, thank you,” remarked Professor Kitagawa via a phone call with the news conference after hearing the decision.
“How long do I have to stay here? Because I have to go out for a meeting,” the laureate continued.
The 3 winners receive monetary reward amounting to SEK 11 million (equivalent to £872,000).
Molecular Architecture on a Core of their Discovery
The researchers' studies involves how molecules are structured in unison into elaborate frameworks. The selection panel termed it “structural molecular engineering”.
These scientists formulated techniques to construct structures with large voids between the molecules, enabling different compounds to pass via them.
These structures are called MOFs.
This announcement was presented by the academic institution during a news conference in Stockholm.
Susumu Kitagawa is based at the University of Kyoto in the Asian nation, Professor Richard Robson is associated with the Melbourne University in Australia, and Prof. Yaghi is connected to the California University in the US.
Earlier Award Recipients in Science Categories
During the prior award cycle, Demis Hassabis, John Jumper, and David Baker were granted the prize for their research on proteins, which are essential elements of life.
It is the third science award given in the current week. On Tuesday, John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis earned the physics award for their work on quantum theory that facilitated the development of the quantum computer.
At the start of the week, 3 scientists studies on how the body's defenses targets harmful microbes won them the prize for medicine.
A single winner, Fred Ramsdell, was unaware of the news for a full day because he was on an remote trek.
