Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Unlocking a universe in a cube

Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced on Wednesday.

Their work is considered a game-changer because they've essentially built a new kind of molecular architecture that can solve some of the world's biggest problems, from climate change to water scarcity.

What's the big deal about MOFs?

Imagine creating a material that is mostly empty space, but that empty space is designed perfectly to capture and hold specific things. That's the essence of MOFs: molecular constructions with large internal channels – like tiny, intricate cages – through which gases and other chemicals can pass.

The genius lies in their enormous surface area. A member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry compared a small sugar-cube-sized piece of MOF to having the entire surface area of a large football pitch. Another described it as being "almost like Hermione's handbag in Harry Potter" – able to store huge quantities of gas in a tiny volume.

This exceptional capacity to hold and separate chemicals is what makes the laureates’ contribution so important. MOFs open "unforeseen opportunities" for custom-made materials with new functions.

MOFs can directly address climate change by capturing carbon dioxide from the air. They are also a game-changer for water scarcity, as they can harvest fresh water from desert air. They can be used to safely store toxic gases or even separate harmful "forever chemicals" (PFAS) and pharmaceutical traces from water.

Looking ahead, Kitagawa dreams of combing MOFs with renewable energy to separate and convert components such as carbon dioxide​ and water into useful materials.

(With input from agencies)