Chemistry Nobel Award Celebrates Three Researchers for Groundbreaking Work on MOF Structures
This year's Nobel Prize in the field of chemistry has been awarded to three distinguished scientists for their influential contributions on MOFs.
Their investigations has potential to tackle numerous significant planetary problems, for instance capturing carbon dioxide to fight global warming or reducing plastic waste through sophisticated chemistry.
“I'm deeply honoured and delighted, thank you very much,” stated the Japanese scientist during a call to the media event after receiving the news.
“How long do I have to stay here? Because I have to go out for a meeting,” Professor Kitagawa continued.
The three recipients receive award funds totaling 11 million Swedish kronor (£872,000).
Framework Construction at the Center of their Achievement
Their scientists' research centers around how molecular units can be assembled together into elaborate structures. The selection panel termed it “molecular design”.
The scientists formulated techniques to build structures with substantial gaps between the units, permitting various substances to travel via them.
Such materials are called MOFs.
The reveal was made by the Swedish scientific body in a press event in Stockholm, Sweden.
Prof. Kitagawa works at Kyoto University in the Asian nation, Professor Richard Robson is associated with the Melbourne University in Australia, and Omar Yaghi resides at the University of California in the US.
Recent Award Laureates in Scientific Fields
During the prior award cycle, three other scientists were granted the prize for their research on proteins, which are fundamental building blocks of living organisms.
It is the third scientific prize presented in the current week. On Tuesday, three physicists won the Physics Nobel for their work on quantum theory that facilitated the development of the quantum computer.
On Monday, three researchers investigations on how the biological immunity attacks harmful microbes secured them the prize for medical science.
A single winner, Fred Ramsdell, missed the announcement for a full day because he was on an remote outing.
