Chemistry Nobel Award Recognizes 3 Experts for Groundbreaking Research on Framework Materials
This year's prestigious award in the field of chemistry is given to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M Yaghi for their seminal research on metal-organic frameworks.
The scientists' studies could be applied to address some of the significant global problems, for instance capturing carbon dioxide to fight environmental shifts or reducing synthetic debris through advanced chemistry.
“I'm deeply honoured and delighted, thank you very much,” said Professor Kitagawa during a phone call to the news conference subsequent to hearing the decision.
“How long do I have to stay here? Because I have to go out for a meeting,” he added.
The three laureates are splitting award funds totaling SEK 11 million (equivalent to £872,000).
Molecular Architecture at the Heart of the Achievement
The researchers' research focuses on how chemical compounds are built together into elaborate networks. The Nobel committee described it as “structural molecular engineering”.
The scientists devised techniques to create assemblies with substantial voids between the units, allowing different compounds to flow via them.
These materials are called metal-organic materials.
The announcement was delivered by the academic institution in a media briefing in the Swedish capital.
Professor Kitagawa works at Kyoto University in the Asian nation, Professor Richard Robson works for the Melbourne University in the Australian continent, and Professor Omar M. Yaghi resides at the California University in the USA.
Earlier Award Recipients in Scientific Categories
In the previous year, three other scientists won the prize for their studies on protein structures, which are critical building blocks of living organisms.
It is the 3rd science award presented in the current week. Earlier this week, John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis won the physics award for their contributions on quantum mechanics that paved the way for the development of the quantum processor.
Earlier, three researchers investigations on how the body's defenses attacks pathogens won them the prize for medical science.
One recipient, Dr Fred Ramsdell, did not receive the announcement for a full day because he was on an disconnected trek.
