This award recognises a decades-long revolution in materials chemistry. MOFs are now used across energy and environmental problems: from capturing CO₂ and storing hydrogen to purifying water, harvesting moisture from desert air and enabling new catalytic processes. And they point to entirely new ways of designing functional materials by construction, not merely by discovery.

What exactly is a metal–organic framework?

At its heart a MOF is a crystal built from two complementary parts:

• Nodes (metal ions or metal clusters). Think of these as the corners in a lattice. Single metal ions (e.g., copper, zinc) or small clusters of metal atoms act as connecting hubs.
• Linkers (organic molecules). Long, rigid organic molecules (typically aromatic carboxylates, azoles or related ligands) act as struts that connect the metal nodes in a regular pattern.

When nodes and linkers are chosen and arranged correctly they self-assemble into an extended network with an open, highly regular geometry. Crucially, this geometry produces large internal cavities and channels — the “rooms” in which other molecules can reside or move. Because the building blocks are modular, chemists can vary metals, linkers and connectivity to tune pore size, chemical environment, stability and function.

Two technical points that explain why MOFs are scientifically exciting:

1. Extreme internal surface area. Some MOFs have surface areas measured in thousands of square metres per gram — meaning tiny amounts of material present an enormous internal surface, ideal for adsorption and storage.
2. Reticular (design-by-construction) chemistry. Rather than relying on chance for useful structures, reticular chemistry (pioneered by Yaghi) treats molecular building blocks like Lego pieces: predictable bonding geometries let chemists design targeted topologies and functions. This shifts materials chemistry from discovery to rational design.

How MOFs are made

Typical MOF synthesis is deceptively simple in concept: dissolve a metal salt and an organic linker in a solvent (sometimes under heat or pressure) and allow them to assemble into crystalline frameworks. But the art is in control: solvent, concentration, temperature, pH and the nature of the metal cluster determine which topology and pore architecture emerge. Over the years researchers have developed methods to produce highly stable MOFs (for example, zirconium-based frameworks that resist water and heat) and strategies to introduce catalytic sites, functional groups or hierarchical porosity. Those synthetic advances have been essential to moving MOFs from lab curiosities to real applications.

Why the discovery matters

MOFs are now more than a materials novelty; they are solving concrete problems:

• Gas capture and climate mitigation. MOFs can selectively adsorb CO₂ from gas streams and, in some pilot projects, help lower emissions from industrial sources. Their tunable chemistry allows high selectivity even in mixed-gas environments.
• Water harvesting from air. Certain MOFs can capture water vapor at low humidity and release it upon mild heating — a method that has been demonstrated to produce potable water from arid air, with promising prototypes aimed at communities with scarce fresh water.
• Energy storage and separations. MOFs are being tested to store hydrogen and other energy-carrying gases and to separate complex mixtures (for example, removing pollutants or “forever chemicals” from water). Their high surface areas, combined with tailored pore chemistry, make them uniquely useful for separations that are otherwise energy-intensive.
• Catalysis and sensors. By installing active sites within their pores, MOFs can catalyse reactions selectively or act as highly sensitive sensors because binding events inside pores produce measurable signals.

These applications are already moving beyond bench demonstrations: industrial partnerships, pilot plants and startup activity have accelerated in the past decade — precisely the kind of societal reach that the Nobel committee often recognises.

Who did what and why they share the prize

MOFs emerged through contributions from many groups over time; the 2025 Nobel honours three pioneers whose work shaped the field in complementary ways.

• Richard Robson (b. 1937) — Robson is widely credited with foundational work in coordination polymers and early MOF-like networks (dating from the 1980s and 1990s). His crystal-engineering insights clarified how transition-metal centres and organic ligands could be used to build extended, infinite polymeric frameworks. Robson’s early conceptual and synthetic groundwork helped show that predictable extended architectures were possible.
• Susumu Kitagawa (b. 1951) — Kitagawa built MOF chemistry into a broad, experimentally driven discipline. He and collaborators demonstrated porous coordination polymers with guest-responsive behaviour and helped establish that such frameworks could be dynamic — changing their pore environments when guests enter or in response to stimuli — which opened routes to selective separations, sensing and responsive materials. Kitagawa’s experiments made porous frameworks an experimental mainstay.
• Omar M. Yaghi (b. 1965) — Yaghi coined and developed reticular chemistry, the idea of stitching molecular building blocks into predictable extended structures (both MOFs and covalent organic frameworks, COFs). He pushed MOFs toward practical stability and function: synthesising robust frameworks, demonstrating extraordinarily high surface areas, and championing applications like water harvesting and gas storage. Yaghi’s laboratory also expanded the chemical toolbox for MOF design and made reticular methods widely accessible to other researchers.

The Nobel committee’s citation — “for the development of metal–organic frameworks” — recognises that the field is the product of complementary theoretical vision, synthetic mastery and experimental application. Each laureate’s contributions helped turn an idea into a global research field with tangible societal potential.

Three portraits: life and work

Omar M. Yaghi — reticular chemistry and robust MOFs

Born in Amman (1965), Omar Yaghi trained in the US and over the last three decades established reticular chemistry as a distinct approach to materials design. He held positions at several institutions and is a long-time faculty member at UC Berkeley. Yaghi’s group produced highly stable frameworks (including zirconium-based MOFs) and pushed MOFs into real-world applications such as water harvesting and CO₂ capture. He has also been a vocal builder of the field — mentoring many students and pushing commercial translation. Berkeley News

Susumu Kitagawa — experiments that revealed porous crystals are functional

A Kyoto native, Kitagawa has been a central figure in Japan’s materials and coordination-chemistry community. He demonstrated that porous coordination polymers can be dynamic and guest-responsive, and his laboratory developed experimental methods to characterise how molecules move in and out of frameworks — knowledge that underpins separations and sensing applications today. Kitagawa’s work emphasised the experimental richness of porous frameworks.

Richard Robson — early crystal engineering and coordination networks

Robson’s career spans decades at the University of Melbourne. He made pioneering contributions to coordination polymers and crystal engineering that prefigured the MOF concept. His early structural ideas and synthetic strategies laid a conceptual foundation, showing how simple coordination chemistry could be extended into infinite networks with predictable patterns. Robson has been a steady influence in the field since the late 20th century.

(For concise biographical facts, the Nobel Foundation’s laureate pages are the authoritative source and provide interviews, photo galleries and publication lists for each laureate.)

Challenges, criticisms and next steps

MOFs are not a panacea. Practical deployment raises real-world engineering questions:

• Stability in real environments. Many MOFs are moisture-sensitive; creating frameworks that remain intact and functional in humid, hot or chemically harsh conditions remains a key engineering challenge. Advances (for example, robust zirconium MOFs) have improved stability, but scale-up and longevity testing are ongoing.
• Economics and scale. Producing MOFs at industrial scale, and doing so in an energy- and cost-efficient way, is still an area of active development. For global climate impact, materials must be affordable, durable and recyclable.
• Environmental lifecycle. The environmental footprint of MOF manufacture and disposal is under scrutiny: researchers are studying greener synthesis routes and recycling strategies.

Despite these hurdles, the field’s rapid progress — from elegant lab crystals to pilot projects and commercial interest — shows MOFs are moving fast along the innovation curve. The Nobel prize highlights both the fundamental science and its societal promise.

Why this Nobel matters to science and society

The 2025 prize is notable because it rewards a materials concept that is both fundamental and practical. MOFs embody a shift toward rational materials design — building function into structure — and they address problems that matter today: clean water, cleaner industrial processes and emissions mitigation. By celebrating the architects of this molecular architecture, the Nobel committee underscored how careful, curiosity-driven chemistry can produce platforms that engineers and society can use to tackle grand challenges.

Further reading (authoritative, recent)

• Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 — press release and laureate pages.
• Nature and Science coverage of the 2025 award and MOF developments.
• Reviews and feature-stories about MOF applications (Scientific American) that summarise water-harvesting, CO₂ capture and industrial prospects.

Mohsin Rasheed

Co-Founder & Chief Editor of Everyman Science. I view science not just as a collection of facts, but as the ultimate guide for human survival. From medical breakthroughs to the logistics of space exploration, I am dedicated to documenting how scientific reasoning uplifts the human spirit and provides the blueprints to save our planet. I believe that by unleashing the power of nature through disciplined inquiry, we can secure a sustainable future for humanity.

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Understanding the Winners

David Baker: Architect of New Proteins

David Baker, a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, has made significant strides in the design of new proteins. His inventive approach involves the creation of entirely new types of proteins, which were previously unimaginable in nature. Baker’s research group has been at the forefront of this innovative field, developing imaginative protein designs that could play crucial roles in various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, vaccines, nanomaterials, and sensors.

The implications of Baker’s work are profound, as his engineered proteins may pave the way for new treatments and technologies, emphasizing the vital role of protein research in addressing global challenges as antibiotics resistant bacteria.

Demis Hassabis and John Jumper: AI and Protein Structure Prediction

On the other hand, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper, both associated with Google DeepMind in London, have made remarkable contributions through their groundbreaking AI model known as AlphaFold2. This model has transformed the landscape of protein structure prediction, enabling scientists to anticipate the shapes of nearly all known proteins—over 200 million in total.

The accuracy of AlphaFold2 has far-reaching implications for biological research, including insights into antibiotic resistance and the visualization of enzymes that can break down plastic. Such advancements are critical in our understanding of complex biological processes and the development of solutions to pressing environmental issues.

Related: Hopfield and Hinton Win 2024 Nobel Prize for Breakthroughs in Machine Learning

The Significance of Protein Research

Proteins: The Building Blocks of Life

Proteins are integral to the functioning of all living organisms. Often described as nature’s “ingenious chemical tools,” they facilitate and govern the chemical reactions that sustain life. Proteins have diverse roles, ranging from acting as hormones and signaling molecules to serving as antibodies and foundational components of tissues. The work conducted by Baker, Hassabis, and Jumper not only enhances our understanding of these vital molecules, but it also opens vast new possibilities for their applications in science and medicine.

The Nobel Prize: A Recognition of Groundbreaking Discoveries

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry comes with a total prize amount of 11 million Swedish kronor. David Baker receives half of this sum, while the other half is equally shared between Demis Hassabis and John Jumper, reflecting the collaborative nature of their groundbreaking research endeavors.

This recognition by the Nobel Committee for Chemistry highlights not only the monumental discoveries made by these scientists but also their potential to significantly impact various fields, from biotechnology to environmental science.

The awarding of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper is a testament to the extraordinary advances in protein research and the potential it holds for the future. Their groundbreaking work not only deepens our understanding of life’s fundamental processes but also sets the stage for innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. As we continue to explore the complexities of proteins and their structures, the contributions of these researchers will undoubtedly inspire and drive future developments in science.

Here is an official press release from nobelprize.org.

Also Read: Ambros & Ruvkun’s MicroRNA Breakthrough Wins 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology & Medicine

Mohsin Rasheed

Co-Founder & Chief Editor of Everyman Science. I view science not just as a collection of facts, but as the ultimate guide for human survival. From medical breakthroughs to the logistics of space exploration, I am dedicated to documenting how scientific reasoning uplifts the human spirit and provides the blueprints to save our planet. I believe that by unleashing the power of nature through disciplined inquiry, we can secure a sustainable future for humanity.

The post 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Awarded for Breakthroughs in Protein Research appeared first on Everyman Science.

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The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 rewards the
discovery and development of quantum dots,
nanoparticles so tiny that their size determines their
properties. These smallest components of nanotech-
nology now spread their light from televisions and
LED lamps, and can also guide surgeons when they
remove tumour tissue, among many other things.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry Announcement.

The Science Behind Quantum Dot Magic:

Quantum dots owe their unique properties and vibrant colors to their size. The first scientist to demonstrate the size-dependent quantum effects in colored glass was Alexei Ekimov. Subsequently, Louis Brus observed the same effects in particles suspended in a fluid. However, it was the pivotal contribution of Moungi Bawendi that truly revolutionized the production of quantum dots on a chemical level. His breakthroughs paved the way for the widespread utilization of these nanoparticles across various industries.

Quantum Dots in Action

One of the most significant achievements of quantum dots is their use in display technologies. Computer monitors, television screens, and LED lamps all benefit from the advanced capabilities that these nanoparticles offer. Due to their ability to emit light at precise wavelengths, quantum dots enhance the quality and efficiency of these displays. They have become a key technology in the visual world we live in today.

Furthermore, quantum dots have proven invaluable in tissue mapping. By applying a specific type of quantum dot to targeted tissues, surgeons can easily identify and navigate the intricate network of cells during tumor removal procedures. This remarkable advancement has revolutionized the field of surgical oncology, enhancing the accuracy and safety of delicate operations.

While quantum dots have already made their mark, their potential extends far beyond what we have witnessed so far. Researchers are actively exploring their applications in flexible electronics, sensors, solar cells, and quantum communication. These areas hold great promise for further advancements that could reshape entire industries and improve our quality of life.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry – 2023 Winners

In recognition of their pioneering work on quantum dots, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 will be shared equally among three distinguished individuals. Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus, and Alexei I. Ekimov have all played crucial roles in unraveling the wonders of these nanoparticles. They have collectively contributed to our understanding and utilization of quantum dots, ushering in a new era of scientific breakthroughs and technological applications.

The prestige of the Nobel Prize is further complemented by the prize amount of 11 million Swedish kronor. As the world eagerly awaits the award ceremony and the laureates’ acceptance speeches, it is evident that their achievements have left an indelible mark on the scientific community.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, founded in 1739, serves as the esteemed organization behind the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. With a mission to promote and strengthen the influence of sciences, particularly in the natural sciences and mathematics, the academy plays a vital role in recognizing and honoring those who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of human knowledge.

For those who wish to delve deeper into the intriguing world of quantum dots and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, more information can be found on the websites of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (www.kva.se) and the official Nobel Prize organization (www.nobelprize.org).

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 stands as a testament to the extraordinary impact of quantum dots on our world. From their use in display technologies to aiding in life-saving surgeries, these nanoparticles have opened up new possibilities and pushed the boundaries of scientific exploration. As we move forward, we eagerly await the next wave of breakthroughs that will continue to unfold through the ingenious application of quantum dots.

You can find the official press release “here”.

Mohsin Rasheed

Co-Founder & Chief Editor of Everyman Science. I view science not just as a collection of facts, but as the ultimate guide for human survival. From medical breakthroughs to the logistics of space exploration, I am dedicated to documenting how scientific reasoning uplifts the human spirit and provides the blueprints to save our planet. I believe that by unleashing the power of nature through disciplined inquiry, we can secure a sustainable future for humanity.

The post Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 Awarded for Quantum Dot Breakthrough appeared first on Everyman Science.

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Cellulose Fibers: The Building Blocks of Paper

Paper is primarily made up of cellulose fibers, which are natural polymer molecules derived from wood. These fibers are interlocked with each other through hook-like irregularities on each strand of cellulose. Additionally, they are bonded to each other by hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen bonds are crucial in chemistry, as they are responsible for many important interactions. These bonds occur between molecules with one end slightly positive and the other slightly negative. The positive end of one molecule is attracted to the negative end of another nearby molecule, resulting in their connection.

Glue that Holds Paper Together

Molecules that contain oxygen bonded to hydrogen, such as water (H2O), are particularly susceptible to hydrogen bonding. The cellulose polymer, which makes up the structure of paper, is covered in oxygen-hydrogen handles along its entire length. When a piece of dry paper is torn, overcoming the intermolecular forces, friction, and fiber entanglements is necessary. However, when paper becomes wet, the fiber matrix swells and the fibers start to detach, causing a loss of strength and making it easier to tear.

Weakening Under Wet Conditions

On a chemical level, the presence of water disrupts the hydrogen bonds that hold the cellulose fibers together. Water, containing its own oxygen-hydrogen bond, begins to form hydrogen bonds with the cellulose, preventing the other fibers from binding. With fewer interactions between the cellulose polymers, it becomes easier to separate the fibers, hence requiring less force to tear the paper.

Variability in Paper Types

It is important to note that not all paper is the same. Various paper products, such as toilet paper, paper towels, newspapers, printer paper, and cardboard, may have different properties despite sharing almost identical cellulose fibers. This variation is because of the additional additives included during the papermaking process. Paper manufacturers utilize chemical techniques to enhance the properties of paper products, with strength being a significant focus.

Dry strength additives, like potato starch, are used to strengthen the fiber matrix in paper products such as packaging boxes. A layer of this natural compound is applied to the paper’s surface as a gel and forms a toughened barrier around the interwoven cellulose fibers when dried. This starch surface acts as scaffolding, greatly boosting the paper’s strength. However, even with reinforced cardboard, exposure to moisture can still have damaging effects. Starch dissolves in water, causing the added strength to rapidly deteriorate when the paper gets wet.

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