Three distinguished scientists, Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi, were honored with the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking work in developing a novel form of molecular architecture. Their innovative materials offer solutions to pressing global issues such as climate change and water scarcity.
The laureates collaborated on creating molecular structures with expansive cavities that facilitate the flow of gases and chemicals. These materials have diverse applications, including extracting water from arid environments, capturing carbon dioxide, and storing harmful gases. Notably, some of these materials possess an extraordinarily large surface area, with a porous substance the size of a small sugar cube containing as much surface area as a large football field.
Olof Ramstrom, a member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, likened the material’s capabilities to Hermione’s magical handbag in the Harry Potter series, emphasizing its ability to store vast amounts of gas in a compact volume. The development of these materials evolved over several years, commencing with Robson’s contributions in 1989 and incorporating the pioneering work of Kitagawa and Yaghi from 1992 to 2003.
Kitagawa, a 74-year-old professor at Kyoto University in Japan, expressed his deep gratitude for the prestigious recognition, envisioning a future where air can be harnessed and converted into valuable resources like carbon dioxide, oxygen, or water using renewable energy sources. One promising application of their research is in carbon capture within the cement industry, a significant source of global carbon dioxide emissions.
Following their breakthroughs, chemists have synthesized thousands of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with diverse potential uses. These materials hold promise in addressing critical challenges, including separating toxic chemicals like PFAS from water and degrading pharmaceutical residues in the environment.
In a separate interview, Yaghi, a 60-year-old professor at the University of California-Berkeley, reflected on his humble beginnings as a child of Palestinian refugees in Jordan. He emphasized the transformative power of science in his life, describing it as the ultimate equalizer. Yaghi’s passion for chemistry was ignited at the age of 10 when he discovered a book on molecules in a library, setting him on a lifelong path of scientific discovery.
Robson, now 88 and residing in Australia, shared his surprise and joy upon receiving the prestigious award. He recounted the moment he received the call from Stockholm at his home in Victoria, reminiscing about preparing dinner with his wife and breaking his no-alcohol rule to celebrate with a glass of wine.
The Nobel Prizes, recognizing outstanding contributions in various fields including physics, chemistry, literature, and peace, carry a monetary award of 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.6 million Cdn). The upcoming announcements include the literature prize on Thursday, the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, and the economics prize on October 13. The laureates will be formally honored at a ceremony on December 10, marking the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
