🔗 Share this article Chemistry Nobel Award Honors 3 Experts for Pioneering Research on Framework Materials The prestigious award in the field of chemistry goes to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M Yaghi for their seminal contributions on metal-organic frameworks. The scientists' studies may help address numerous major planetary challenges, for instance trapping greenhouse gases to fight climate change or reducing plastic pollution through innovative chemistry. “I'm deeply honoured and delighted, thank you very much,” stated Prof. Kitagawa during a telephone conversation to the press briefing subsequent to learning the news. “How much time must I spend here? I need to leave for a scheduled meeting,” the laureate added. These three laureates are splitting award funds totaling SEK 11 million (£872,000). Structural Design on a Center of the Breakthrough The scientists' research focuses on how chemical compounds are structured together into complex structures. The Nobel committee described it as “molecular architecture”. The professors formulated approaches to build assemblies with large voids among the units, enabling different compounds to pass through them. Such compounds are called MOFs. The declaration was delivered by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in a news conference in the Swedish capital. Prof. Kitagawa is based at the University of Kyoto in the Asian nation, Prof. Robson is associated with the Melbourne University in Australia, and Omar Yaghi is at the UC in the US. Officials of the award panel hold a example of a metal-organic framework Previous Award Laureates in Scientific Categories In the previous year, Demis Hassabis, John Jumper, and David Baker received the prize for their studies on proteins, which are critical elements of living organisms. This is the 3rd scientific award awarded this week. Previously, John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis earned the Physics Nobel for their research on quantum theory that enabled the advancement of the quantum computer. At the start of the week, 3 researchers investigations on how the body's defenses targets hostile infections won them the award for medicine. One winner, Fred Ramsdell, missed the announcement for nearly a day because he was on an disconnected hiking trip.