Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: IE
Context: The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi for creating Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) — a revolutionary class of porous materials that can trap, store, and release molecules with high precision.
About Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025:
What It Is?
• The Nobel Prize in Chemistry, established by Alfred Nobel’s 1895 will, honours scientists who make groundbreaking contributions to chemical science benefiting humanity.
• The 2025 award recognises innovations that have redefined materials chemistry and opened new possibilities for sustainable technologies.
Winners of 2025:
• Susumu Kitagawa (Japan) – Kyoto University
• Richard Robson (Australia) – University of Melbourne
• Omar Yaghi (Jordan–US) – University of California, Berkeley
Their Work:
• The trio pioneered Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) — crystalline materials made by linking metal ions with organic molecules to form ultra-porous 3D structures.
• Robson (1970s) first conceptualised porous molecular networks.
• Kitagawa (1990s) proved these could be flexible and “breathe” gases in and out.
• Yaghi (2000s) stabilised the frameworks and developed reticular chemistry, enabling MOFs to capture water from air and store gases like CO₂ or methane.
About Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs):
What They Are?
• MOFs are special materials made by combining metal atoms (like copper or zinc) with organic molecules to create a solid structure full of tiny, evenly spaced holes.
• Think of them like sponges at the atomic level — strong and flexible, with countless microscopic spaces that can trap, store, or filter different substances such as gases, water, or chemicals.
Key Features:
• Super Porous: MOFs have an enormous number of tiny holes — just one gram can have the surface area of several football fields.
• Custom-Made Design: Scientists can adjust the hole size and chemical nature of MOFs to catch exactly what they want, like a lock made for a specific key.
• Breathing Materials: Some MOFs can expand or shrink when they absorb or release gases — much like a lung breathing in and out.
• Strong and Reusable: They can withstand heat and chemicals, so they last long and can be used again and again.
• Easy to Make: MOFs can be produced using simple, eco-friendly, and low-cost methods, making them practical for real-world use.
Applications:
• Capturing Carbon: MOFs can soak up carbon dioxide (CO₂) from factories or the air, helping fight climate change.
• Making Water from Air: They can pull water vapour from dry desert air, offering a new way to get clean drinking water.
• Clean Energy Storage: MOFs can store hydrogen or methane, providing safe, lightweight fuel for future green energy.
• Cleaning Pollution: They help remove harmful chemicals and toxins like PFAS or heavy metals from drinking water.
• Helping in Medicine and Chemistry: MOFs can speed up chemical reactions (as catalysts) or carry medicines safely to specific parts of the body.