Chemistry Nobel Award Honors Three Scientists for Pioneering Studies on Metal-Organic Frameworks
This year's Nobel Prize in the field of chemistry is given to three distinguished scientists for their influential work on porous materials.
The scientists' research could be applied to address some of the pressing planetary issues, for instance capturing carbon dioxide to combat global warming or reducing plastic pollution through sophisticated scientific methods.
“I'm deeply honoured and delighted, thank you very much,” remarked Prof. Kitagawa via a telephone conversation with the news conference subsequent to receiving the news.
“What’s the duration I need to remain? I have an appointment to attend,” Professor Kitagawa continued.
These three recipients will share prize money amounting to 11 mln SEK (£872,000).
Molecular Architecture on a Heart of their Breakthrough
The researchers' work centers around how molecules are structured collectively into complex frameworks. Award organizers described it as “structural molecular engineering”.
These professors formulated methods to create assemblies with substantial gaps amid the components, allowing various substances to travel through them.
Such compounds are known as metal-organic frameworks.
The reveal was presented by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences at a news conference in Stockholm, Sweden.
Prof. Kitagawa works at Kyoto University in the Asian nation, Prof. Robson works for the University of Melbourne in Australia, and Omar Yaghi is at the California University in the United States.
Previous Nobel Recipients in Scientific Categories
During the prior award cycle, Demis Hassabis, John Jumper, and David Baker received the prize for their work on protein structures, which are critical elements of biological systems.
This is the 3rd science recognition given recently. Previously, three physicists earned the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on quantum mechanics that enabled the advancement of the quantum computer.
At the start of the week, three experts' studies on how the immune system targets hostile infections secured them the award for medicine.
One recipient, Dr Fred Ramsdell, was unaware of the news for a full day because he was on an off-grid hiking trip.
