Nobel chemistry awarded to three scientists for their work on metal organic frames

The Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded to Susumu Kitawa, Richard Robson and Omar Maggie for their work on metal-organic frames.

The work of the three scientists can handle some of the largest problems on our planet, including capturing carbon dioxide, to help deal with climate change and reduce plastic pollution with chemistry.

“I am deeply honored and delighted, thank you very much,” Professor Kitawa said by phone at a press conference after being told the news.

“How long should I stay here? Because I have to go out for a meeting,” he added.

Professor Kitawa works at the University of Kyoto in Japan, Professor Richard Robson is at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and Professor Omar Maigi is at the University of California, USA.

The three winners will share money from 11 million Swedish Kronor (£ 872,000).

The work of scientists is about how molecules can be built together in structures – or metal -organic frames (MOFS). The Nobel Committee called it “Molecular Architecture”.

The men have developed how to build structures with large spaces between molecules through which gases and other chemicals can flow.

These “rooms” can be used to capture and store chemicals that people want to get rid of, including carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, or so -called chemicals, also known as PFA.

Scientists began to work independently on the structures in the 70s and 80s. Prof. Robson asked his university to break holes in laboratory worktops so that the wooden balls are atoms – to be attached to wooden rods representing chemical bonds.

So far, MOFS has only been used on a small scale, but companies are looking at whether they can be made massively.

One potential application is to break down harmful gases, including those used in nuclear weapons.

Companies also test whether they can be used to capture the gas dioxide on the planet to warm the planet by power plants and factories.

Professor Robson, who was born in North Yorkshire but has been based at the University of Melbourne since 1966, told the BBC Newshour that the news “is not a big surprise (because of) any sounds I have heard over the years.”

When asked about the potential applications of his work, he calls for caution: “Talk about binding CO2 and solving the world’s atmospheric problems that do not sound realistic to me – but these types of compounds can do this kind of work on a small scale.”

The 88-year-old professor admits that the money of the award “is the main thing in my head. It was not the driving force for all this, but at this stage of my life it is a very pleasant thought.”

The prize is another indicator of the value of chemistry when dealing with some of the most difficult problems on the planet.

“Every year, we see the Nobel Awards given to the chemists who welcome the challenge of finding solutions to the largest problems that the global society is facing -better health, environmental energy and secure food and water for all,” said Dr. Annette Doharti, president of the royal chemical company.

The announcement was made by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences at a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden.

Professor Kitagawa is motivated by the principle of “usefulness of useless”, according to the Nobel Committee. It reflects the philosophy of an ancient Chinese philosopher Juangzi, who said that even if something does not bring immediate benefit, it may still be valuable.

Professor Yagi was born in Aman, Jordan and grew up in a room with his siblings without electricity or running water, according to the Nobel Committee.

He was captivated by molecular structures one day at school, and at the age of 15, he went to the United States to study.

This is the third award for science awarded this week. On Tuesday, John Clark, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis won Nobel physics for their work on quantum mechanics, which made the way to the quantum computer.

On Monday, the work of three scientists about how the attacks of the immune system attack hostile infections won them the award for medicine.