The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Honors Architects of Molecular Space

On October 8, 2025, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, awarding the honor jointly to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi. This prestigious recognition celebrates their pioneering work in developing Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), a breakthrough that fundamentally established a new domain within molecular architecture. This monumental achievement has unlocked novel possibilities for synthesizing and designing porous materials that exhibit extraordinary physicochemical characteristics.

The prize money, totaling 11 million Swedish Kronor, will be distributed equally among the three distinguished laureates. Their collective contribution has provided chemists with unprecedented control over material properties at the molecular level, making these structures invaluable across numerous scientific and technological sectors.

The essence of this revolutionary advance lies in constructing crystalline, porous frameworks. In these structures, metal ions serve as central connection points, linked together by extended organic molecules. The resulting materials possess vast internal cavities, allowing gases and various chemical compounds to move freely throughout the structure. Essentially, these are meticulously engineered molecular constructions featuring large, purpose-built internal voids. The Chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, Heiner Linke, aptly likened these frameworks to Hermione Granger’s magical bag from the Harry Potter series—small on the outside, yet incredibly capacious within.

The journey toward this discovery involved several critical stages. Conceptual groundwork was first laid in 1989 by Richard Robson of the University of Melbourne, who successfully linked copper ions with organic molecules, yielding a spacious but ultimately fragile crystal. Subsequently, between 1992 and 2003, Susumu Kitagawa, based at Kyoto University, demonstrated the inherent flexibility of MOFs and their capacity to selectively transport gases, significantly enhancing their practical utility. Omar M. Yaghi, affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley, later solidified this field by engineering exceptionally robust structures. He also introduced the concept of 'reticular chemistry' to describe the modular methodology used in their design.

A landmark moment occurred in 1999 when Yaghi unveiled MOF-5, a material boasting ultra-high porosity capable of withstanding temperatures up to 300°C without degradation, establishing it as a cornerstone platform technology. Through their combined efforts, chemists have now been empowered to design tens of thousands of distinct MOF variations.

The potential applications of MOFs align perfectly with Alfred Nobel’s mandate to confer the greatest benefit upon humankind. These materials are already being deployed for extracting potable water from arid desert air and capturing carbon dioxide, a crucial endeavor for meeting global climate objectives. Furthermore, they are utilized in purifying water from contaminants, including the separation of PFAS compounds, and in biomedicine for targeted drug delivery systems. MOFs also excel in catalyzing chemical reactions, storing and transporting hydrogen, and functioning as highly sensitive sensors for detecting hazardous substances.

In the current landscape of 2025, the segment dedicated to gas storage represents the dominant market share, accounting for approximately 40% of the total market, underscoring their vital role in energy security, particularly concerning hydrogen storage solutions.

The market for Metal-Organic Frameworks is experiencing rapid expansion. Valued at roughly $0.51 billion USD in 2024, projections indicate this market will surge to $1.70 billion USD by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.1%. Currently, zinc-based MOFs command a substantial portion of this market, representing about 27.8% in 2025, largely due to their inherent versatility. This robust growth is fueled by increasing global investment in green technologies and the continuous discovery of new industrial uses for MOFs.

Despite receiving this supreme accolade, Professor Robson returned to his teaching duties the very next day, leading a lecture for first-year students. This action serves as a potent reminder of the inseparable link between fundamental scientific inquiry and the vital process of knowledge transfer to the next generation. These material science achievements are opening up entirely new avenues for chemists and engineers to construct materials with precisely tailored properties. The synergistic collaboration of these three scientists has not only propelled chemistry forward but also serves to inspire emerging researchers toward interdisciplinary innovation.