Three Scientists Win Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 for Metal-Organic Frameworks
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi for the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The prize recognizes a body of work dating back to 1989 that opened new avenues in materials science, chemistry, and environmental technology. The laureates share 11 million Swedish crowns (about $1.7 million) and join a long line of researchers whose discoveries have reshaped modern science.
What are Metal-Organic Frameworks?
Metal-organic frameworks are crystalline, porous structures formed by linking metal nodes with organic linkers. Their highly tunable porosity creates large internal surfaces, allowing gases and liquids to move through with remarkable efficiency. Because the frameworks can be engineered at the molecular level, MOFs have emerged as versatile platforms for catalysis, sensing, gas separation, and storage.
Why MOFs Matter
The academy highlighted several practical applications that MOFs enable. In arid regions, MOFs could help harvest water from desert air by concentrating moisture from the atmosphere. In environmental science, MOFs offer potential for capturing carbon dioxide from industrial emissions and for storing or safely containing toxic gases. Beyond climate and sustainability, these materials hold promise for energy storage, drug delivery, and the development of new catalysts that reduce energy consumption in chemical processes.
Meet the Laureates
Susumu Kitagawa, from Japan, is renowned for pioneering work in designing porous materials and exploring their structural chemistry. Omar Yaghi, now at the forefront of MOF research in the United States, helped inaugurate a modular approach to constructing frameworks that can be tailored for specific tasks. Richard Robson, a chemist who has pushed forward the practical implementation of MOFs in real-world systems, completes the trio recognized for translating a foundational concept into tools with broad societal impact.
What’s Next for MOFs and Science?’
With the Nobel recognition, MOFs are poised to accelerate research across multiple sectors. Researchers are exploring scalable production, safety, and integration of MOFs into industrial processes. As the technology matures, MOFs could become commonplace in carbon capture facilities, water purification systems, and high-density energy storage devices. The prize signals a shift toward materials designed with precision at the molecular level to address pressing global challenges.
About the Nobel Prize in Chemistry
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The prize money, status, and the prestige of the award celebrate transformative advances in chemistry that have broad scientific and societal impact. This year’s Chemistry prize follows announcements in medicine and physics, continuing a tradition of highlighting discoveries that change how we understand and interact with the natural world.
Looking Ahead
As the 2025 Nobel cycle continues, next on the calendar are the Literature Prize, followed by the Peace Prize and the Economics Prize. The awards event underscores the global reach of science and the ongoing collaboration across nations that drives breakthroughs in chemistry and beyond.
