Overview

• The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences named Shun Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi as the 2025 laureates for developing metal‑organic frameworks.
• Kitagawa, 74, of Kyoto University told a press conference he was very moved by the honor and grateful for the environment that supported his work.
• Metal‑organic frameworks are porous crystalline materials whose pore size and chemistry can be tailored for diverse functions, a versatility highlighted in the prize citation.
• Coverage noted Kitagawa’s team reported in 2022 that porous materials efficiently separated ordinary water and heavy water, illustrating MOFs’ selectivity.
• Kyoto Mayor Koji Matsui called the recognition a source of civic pride that will inspire young people, as discussions of potential applications, including treated‑water challenges, continue without claims of near‑term solutions.