Nobel Prize in Chemistry Celebrates Three Researchers for Innovative Research on Framework Materials
This year's prestigious award in Chemistry is given to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M Yaghi for their seminal work on porous materials.
Their investigations could be applied to tackle numerous significant worldwide challenges, for instance capturing carbon dioxide to address global warming or reducing plastic waste through sophisticated chemistry.
“I'm deeply honoured and delighted, thank you very much,” remarked the Japanese scientist via a call with the news conference after receiving the decision.
“How much time must I spend here? I need to leave for a scheduled meeting,” he noted.
These three laureates receive monetary reward amounting to 11 million Swedish kronor (about £872k).
Structural Design on a Heart of the Achievement
The researchers' studies centers around how chemical compounds are built collectively into intricate structures. The selection panel referred to it as “structural molecular engineering”.
The professors developed methods to construct frameworks with large voids amid the components, allowing different compounds to pass within them.
Such compounds are referred to as metal-organic frameworks.
This announcement was made by the Swedish scientific body during a news conference in Stockholm.
Susumu Kitagawa is based at the University of Kyoto in the Asian nation, Richard Robson is at the Melbourne University in the Australian continent, and Professor Omar M. Yaghi is connected to the University of California in the United States.
Recent Nobel Laureates in Scientific Categories
Last year, Demis Hassabis, John Jumper, and David Baker received the prize for their research on biological molecules, which are critical components of living organisms.
It is the 3rd science prize given this week. On Tuesday, John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on subatomic physics that enabled the advancement of the quantum processor.
On Monday, three researchers investigations on how the body's defenses combats harmful microbes secured them the honor for physiology.
One recipient, Dr. Ramsdell, did not receive the announcement for 20 hours because he was on an off-grid trek.
