How the pioneers of metal-organic frameworks won the Nobel prize
By 
Julia Robinson2025-10-15T14:50:00
From wooden models to thousands and thousands of structures, Julia Robinson tells the story of how Richard Robson, Susumu Kitagawa and Omar Yaghi won the 2025 Nobel prize in chemistry
In 2025, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Richard Robson, Susumu Kitagawa, and Omar Yaghi for their pioneering work on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) – highly porous materials with vast potential across science and industry. From Robson’s early wooden models to Yaghi’s breakthrough MOF-5 and Kitagawa’s push for stability and flexibility, their discoveries have transformed MOFs into a global research field with applications in gas storage, catalysis, water purification, and more. This article traces the remarkable journey of MOFs from obscure academic curiosity to Nobel-winning innovation.