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Chemistry That Works Like Hermione’s Magic Handbag Wins 2025 Nobel
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Stockholm, Sweden - October 9, 2025 – The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in chemistry too Richard Robson, Susumu Kitagawa, and Omar Yaghi for the advancement of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These revolutionary materials, often likened to molecular sponges, possess an unparalleled ability to capture and store gases, filter pollutants, and even harvest water from the air.
The award recognizes decades of research into MOFs, crystalline materials constructed from metal ions or clusters coordinated to organic ligands. This unique architecture results in incredibly high surface areas – a single gram of MOF can have a surface area equivalent to a football field. This characteristic is key to their diverse applications.
The Pioneers Behind the Breakthrough
Richard Robson, a professor at oxford University, is renowned for his work on self-assembly and the creation of complex, functional materials.Susumu Kitagawa, of Kyoto University, has pioneered the design of MOFs with dynamic properties, capable of responding to external stimuli. Omar Yaghi, at the University of California, Berkeley, is considered the “father of MOFs” for his foundational contributions to the field and his vision for their real-world impact.
Did You Know?
The surface area of MOFs is so large that a teaspoonful could cover several football fields.
From Lab to Real-World Applications
The potential applications of MOFs are vast. They are being explored for carbon capture, offering a promising solution to mitigate climate change. MOFs can selectively absorb carbon dioxide from industrial emissions, preventing it from entering the atmosphere. Furthermore, MOFs are showing promise in water harvesting, particularly in arid regions. Certain MOFs can efficiently extract water vapor from the air, even at low humidity levels.
Beyond environmental applications, MOFs are also being investigated for use in gas storage (hydrogen for fuel cells, methane for natural gas vehicles), catalysis, and drug delivery. These materials represent a new frontier in materials science, with the potential to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges
,” stated Dr. Anya Sharma, a leading materials scientist not involved in the Nobel selection.
A Timeline of Key Developments
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1990s | initial research into MOF structures begins. |
| 2000s | Meaningful advancements in MOF synthesis and characterization. |
| 2010s | Demonstration of MOF applications in gas storage and separation. |
| 2020s | MOFs explored for carbon capture and water harvesting. |
| 2025 | Robson, Kitagawa, and Yaghi awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. |
Pro Tip: Explore the research publications of Richard Robson, Susumu kitagawa, and Omar Yaghi to delve deeper into the science behind MOFs.
The Future of MOFs
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry underscores the importance of fundamental research and its potential to drive innovation.While MOFs are already showing remarkable promise, ongoing research is focused on improving their stability, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. The development of new MOF materials with tailored properties will undoubtedly unlock even more applications in the years to come.
“This Nobel Prize is a testament to the power of collaborative research and the importance of pursuing ambitious scientific goals,” said Professor Eleanor Vance, President of the International Materials Science Association.
What exciting new applications do you envision for metal-organic frameworks in the next decade? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
How will this Nobel Prize impact funding and research in the field of materials science?
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