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Nobel Prize 2025: Revolutionary MOFs for environmental and health technologies!
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to Kitagawa, Robson and Yaghi for groundbreaking metal-organic structures (MOFs) for environmental engineering.
Nobel Prize 2025: Revolutionary MOFs for environmental and health technologies!
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded today to scientists Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi for their groundbreaking work on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These revolutionary materials promise not only advances in chemistry, but also crucial solutions for environmental and energy technologies. With a gigantic surface area of up to 7,000 m² per gram and a pore system that is reminiscent of the size of a sports field, the discovery of MOFs represents an enormous advance in chemical matter research. According to the TU Wien. they modular chemistry through the selection of metals and organic molecules.
MOFs are more than just chemical curiosity. Their possible applications are diverse. They are used for gas storage and separation, help purify air and water and are used in medicine - for example as drug delivery systems. The extraction of water from dry desert air and the capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere are also among the promising applications of these materials Chemie-Link reports.
Development and research at the TU Vienna
The TU Vienna has established itself as one of the leading centers for MOF research in Europe. Under the leadership of Prof. Dominik Eder, the Molecular Materials Chemistry (MMC) area focuses on current topics such as photocatalytic and electrocatalytic processes. Together with Graz University of Technology and the University of Vienna, we are working on the integration of MOFs into novel biosensors and the development of innovative cleaning technologies. We work closely with renowned researchers, such as Nobel Prize winner Prof. Susumu Kitagawa.
Another exciting area of research is the potential applications of MOFs to remove persistent pollutants such as PFAS from water. Previous studies show that some MOF structures are capable of adsorbing these stubborn chemicals or degrading them when exposed to light. These results are promising and could open avenues for environmentally friendly solutions. According to etoppc, research in this area is still young, but the potential to address global challenges is enormous.
The meaning of the award
The awarding of the Nobel Prize to these three outstanding scientists is the third Nobel Prize of 2025, after prizes have already been awarded in the categories of medicine and physics. In total, the prize is worth 11 million Swedish kroner (approx. 1.2 million US dollars). Nobel laureate Yaghi is particularly highlighted for his work on robust, porous, crystal-like structures, which are considered groundbreaking for MOF research. The Nobel Prize therefore recognizes not only a groundbreaking discovery, but also a significant contribution to the practical application of these technologies for a sustainable future.
MOFs have the potential to push the boundaries of chemistry and could help solve pressing environmental problems in the coming years. The Nobel Committee has therefore not only recognized a new class of materials, but also demonstrated a possible way in which research into these innovative materials can have a positive impact on the world.