Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025: Revolutionary developments in MOFs!

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025: Revolutionary developments in MOFs!

On October 9, 2025, Prof. Susumu Kitagawa, director of the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences at Kyoto University, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He shares this honor with Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi for their significant contributions to the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These materials, which consist of metal ions that are bonded via organic molecules to form highly porous structures, open up numerous new technologies in the areas of environment and energy.

MOFs are characterized by their enormous internal surface area and large cavities. They can absorb, store or release molecules in a targeted manner. This makes them particularly valuable for applications such as extracting water from dry desert air or removing pollutants from water. They are also able to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or exhaust gases and store hydrogen. These developments are a further step towards the industrial production and commercialization of MOFs, with initial applications in the semiconductor industry to safely bind toxic process gases.

Significance of the award

TUM President Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann congratulated Kitagawa on his award and emphasized the importance of his work for global challenges such as clean drinking water, sustainable energy and the reduction of greenhouse gases. His research has not only contributed to science but also produced practical solutions to pressing environmental problems. Kitagawa is considered a pioneer in materials chemistry, and his work is particularly highlighted in research into the removal of PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals,” from water.

Prof. Roland A. Fischer, who holds the Chair of Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry at TUM, praised Kitagawa not only for his scientific achievements, but also for his role as a mentor for young researchers. To date, TUM has awarded 19 Nobel Prizes to its researchers and alumni, which underlines the university's outstanding position in the scientific community.

History of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded annually since 1901, making it one of the oldest awards in the scientific world. It is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and recognizes the “most important chemical discovery or improvement”. The endowment for 2024 is 11 million Swedish crowns (approx. 1,003,000 euros), and the award ceremony takes place every year on December 10th, the anniversary of the death of the founder Alfred Nobel.

In total, 116 Nobel Prizes in Chemistry have been awarded by 2024, highlighting notable figures such as Marie Curie and Frederick Sanger. The distribution of awards shows that 195 people were awarded, of which 187 were men and 8 were women, indicating that gender disparity in science still exists. This award for Prof. Kitagawa and his co-winners represents a significant advance in materials chemistry research and could pave the way for future technological developments.