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Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 – Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs)

Reference Article: The Hindu

UPSC CSE Relevance:
– GS Paper III: Science and Technology – Developments and applications in everyday life; Indigenisation of technology and new materials.

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Richard Robson, Susumu Kitagawa, and Omar Yaghi for developing metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) — crystalline materials that have revolutionised material science. By designing structures with tunable cavities and enormous surface areas, MOFs have created new possibilities for climate mitigation, clean energy storage, and resource sustainability.

Scientific Discovery

  • Origins: In the 1980s, Richard Robson of the University of Melbourne sought to design molecular architectures rather than discover them by chance. Combining copper ions with organic linkers, he created ordered, porous crystals that defied expectations.
  • Breakthrough by Kitagawa: In 1997, Susumu Kitagawa demonstrated that frameworks made of transition metals like cobalt, nickel, and zinc could absorb and release gases without collapsing — effectively inventing “breathing” materials.
  • Yaghi’s Reticular Chemistry: Dissatisfied with trial-and-error methods, Omar Yaghi developed reticular chemistry, a systematic way to assemble building blocks into predictable 3D networks.
    • In 1999, his MOF-5, based on zinc clusters, achieved a surface area comparable to a football field in a few grams — a landmark in molecular design.

Applications and Significance

  • Climate Solutions: MOFs can capture CO₂, harvest water from air, and store hydrogen or methane, aiding the transition to clean energy.
  • Industrial Utility: They are now used in gas separation, catalysis, and semiconductor manufacturing.
  • Scientific Impact: MOFs proved that quantum precision could be extended to bulk materials, redefining the boundaries of chemistry.

Challenges and Future Prospects

  • Durability and Cost: Scaling MOFs for industrial use demands materials that withstand humidity, temperature, and mechanical stress.
  • Integration: Embedding MOFs in batteries, fuel cells, and catalytic filters requires interdisciplinary engineering.
  • Frontier Potential: Future research may yield smart, responsive frameworks that adapt to external stimuli — a step toward programmable materials.

Conclusion

The laureates’ discovery marked a paradigm shift: chemistry can now design empty space as deliberately as solid matter. MOFs represent both a scientific and philosophical leap — turning the invisible into a tool for sustainability. The field embodies how fundamental curiosity can evolve into solutions for planetary challenges.

Sample UPSC Mains Question (GS Paper III):

Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have redefined material design by making empty space a resource. Discuss their potential role in addressing climate change and advancing sustainable technologies.