Three scientists who pioneered a revolutionary class of materials that function as molecular sponges have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for their foundational work in designing and synthesizing metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs. These crystalline structures, assembled from metal ions and carbon-based molecules, possess vast internal cavities that can be precisely tailored to capture, store, and separate specific molecules, opening new frontiers for tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
The laureates’ discoveries have given rise to materials with unprecedented properties, most notably their extraordinary porosity. MOFs have the largest internal surface areas of any known substance; a few grams of a MOF powder can have an internal surface area equivalent to a football field. This unique characteristic allows them to trap enormous quantities of gases and liquids within a tiny volume, a feature the Nobel Committee chairman likened to Hermione’s magical, bottomless handbag from the Harry Potter series. Their potential applications are vast, ranging from capturing carbon dioxide to purifying water and storing clean energy fuels like hydrogen.
A New Architecture for Matter
At its core, the laureates’ work established an entirely new form of molecular architecture. MOFs are constructed using a modular, building-block approach that combines two main components: metal ions that serve as cornerstones or “hubs,” and rigid organic molecules that act as “linkers” to connect them. When combined in a solution, these components self-assemble into highly ordered, three-dimensional crystalline structures. The specific choice of metal and linker dictates the size and chemical properties of the resulting internal pores.
This “reticular chemistry,” a term championed by laureate Omar M. Yaghi, allows chemists to design and build frameworks with atomic precision. By systematically altering the building blocks, researchers can fine-tune the material’s properties for specific tasks. They can create pores that are the perfect size and shape to ensnare carbon dioxide molecules from a factory’s emissions, while letting other gases pass through. Tens of thousands of unique MOFs have already been designed and synthesized, each with different structures and potential functions, creating a versatile toolbox for chemists worldwide.
The Pioneers Behind the Frameworks
The prize honors three individuals whose distinct contributions collectively laid the groundwork for this burgeoning field. Their research transformed what was once a chemical curiosity into one of the most dynamic areas of materials science. The winners—based in Japan, Australia, and the United States—will share the prize of 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million).
Foundational Design and Vision
Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi are credited with pioneering the development of the first metal-organic frameworks and demonstrating their vast potential. Their work showed that it was possible to create stable, highly porous materials by linking metal ions with carefully chosen organic molecules, establishing the fundamental principles of MOF synthesis. Susumu Kitagawa’s key insight was recognizing that these frameworks were not always rigid. In 1998, he described how MOFs could be flexible, soft materials whose pores could open and close in response to external stimuli, a property that greatly expanded their functional possibilities.
Solving Global Challenges Molecule by Molecule
The true impact of MOFs lies in their ability to provide tangible solutions to global problems. Researchers are actively testing these materials in a wide array of applications that support environmental sustainability, clean energy, and human health. The development of MOFs has provided chemists with powerful new tools for solving critical challenges.
Climate and Energy Solutions
One of the most promising applications for MOFs is in combating climate change. Their exceptional ability to selectively capture carbon dioxide makes them ideal candidates for carbon capture technologies, which aim to trap CO2 emissions from power plants and industrial sites before they enter the atmosphere. One specific framework, known as CALF-20, has shown an exceptional capacity for CO2 absorption and is already being tested at an industrial factory. Beyond capture, MOFs are also being developed to store hydrogen fuel safely and efficiently, a crucial step toward a hydrogen-based clean energy economy.
Water Purification and Harvesting
MOFs also offer revolutionary solutions for water scarcity and contamination. Their tunable pores can be designed to selectively absorb pollutants, such as the persistent “forever chemicals” (PFAS) or trace amounts of antibiotics, from drinking water. In a particularly striking application, certain MOFs can pull water vapor directly from the air, even in arid desert climates with low humidity. This technology could provide a vital source of fresh water for remote communities facing extreme water shortages.
A Nobel-Worthy Contribution
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences celebrated the laureates for creating entirely new rooms for chemistry, providing a platform for unprecedented molecular innovations. The committee noted that the development of MOFs gave chemists new opportunities to address complex problems, fulfilling Alfred Nobel’s vision of awarding discoveries that confer the “greatest benefit to humankind.” The announcement was widely anticipated within the scientific community, where the relevance of MOFs to urgent environmental issues had made them a popular candidate for the prize.
The Future of Porous Materials
With thousands of frameworks already created and countless more possibilities yet to be discovered, many researchers believe MOFs could become the defining material of the 21st century. The next major hurdle is scaling up production to make these materials available for large-scale industrial and environmental applications. International research programs, such as Europe’s Horizon Europe, are actively supporting the development of MOF-based technologies to accelerate their transition from the laboratory to the marketplace. From slowing the ripening of fruit to delivering targeted medicines, the potential of this molecular architecture continues to expand, promising a future built on materials designed with atomic precision.