Nobel Prize in Chemistry Honors 3 Experts for Groundbreaking Work on MOF Structures
This year's Nobel Prize in the field of chemistry is given to three distinguished scientists for their seminal research on porous materials.
Their research could be applied to address some of the significant worldwide problems, for instance CO2 capture to fight climate change or curbing synthetic debris through sophisticated chemistry.
“I feel tremendously honored and overjoyed, many thanks,” remarked Professor Kitagawa in a phone call to the media event subsequent to receiving the announcement.
“How long do I have to stay here? Because I have to go out for a meeting,” Professor Kitagawa added.
The 3 recipients are splitting monetary reward totaling 11 mln SEK (£872,000).
Structural Design at the Heart of the Breakthrough
Their researchers' studies involves how chemical compounds are built together into elaborate structures. The selection panel referred to it as “molecular architecture”.
The professors formulated approaches to build frameworks with large voids amid the molecules, permitting different compounds to flow through them.
Such materials are known as metal-organic frameworks.
The announcement was presented by the academic institution in a press event in Stockholm, Sweden.
Susumu Kitagawa works at Kyoto University in Japan, Professor Richard Robson is associated with the University of Melbourne in the Australian continent, and Professor Omar M. Yaghi is connected to the California University in the US.
Earlier Award Laureates in Scientific Fields
In the previous year, Demis Hassabis, John Jumper, and David Baker received the honor for their work on proteins, which are essential building blocks of biological systems.
This is the 3rd scientific recognition given in the current week. Previously, John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis won the Physics Nobel for their work on subatomic physics that facilitated the development of the quantum computer.
At the start of the week, three scientists work on how the body's defenses targets pathogens earned them the honor for medicine.
A single recipient, Dr Fred Ramsdell, did not receive the notification for 20 hours because he was on an disconnected hiking trip.
