Overview

• Sweden’s Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences named Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi as laureates for creating a new molecular architecture with large internal cavities known as metal–organic frameworks.
• MOFs allow gases and chemicals to move through spacious pores, enabling functions such as capturing carbon dioxide, storing toxic gases, catalyzing reactions and, in some designs, conducting electricity.
• The Nobel Committee cited practical demonstrations including harvesting water from desert air, with Yaghi’s group collecting moisture at night and releasing liquid water with morning heat in Arizona.
• The groundwork spans decades: Robson reported an early spacious crystal in 1989, Kitagawa showed gases could reversibly enter and exit the structures, and Yaghi built stable, modifiable MOFs with new properties.
• The chemistry prize was announced during Nobel week, carries 11 million Swedish kronor to be shared, and highlights international contributions from Japan, the United Kingdom and Jordan.