Scientists win Chemistry Nobel Prize for bridging metals and organics, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• Richard Robson, Susumu Kitagawa, and Omar Yaghi won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).
• The scientists created MOFs by integrating metallic and organic substances, previously thought impossible.
• MOFs have potential applications in filtering water, capturing carbon dioxide, and harvesting water from desert air.
• The prize is worth 11 million Swedish kroner (approximately ₹1 crore), to be shared equally among the three laureates.

Detailed Insights:

• Richard Robson conceived the idea of MOFs in the mid-1970s, combining copper ions with a four-armed molecule to create a spacious crystal.
• Susumu Kitagawa created porous molecules and demonstrated that gases can flow in and out of MOF structures, predicting their flexibility.
• Omar Yaghi developed stable MOFs that can be modified using rational design, enabling applications like water harvesting.
• MOFs offer advantages over materials like zeolites, especially with the development of soft MOFs, expanding their utility.
• Chemists have developed thousands of MOFs with different shapes and properties, using a molecular kit for rational or AI-based design.
• Potential applications of MOFs include separating PFAS from water, breaking down pharmaceuticals, and capturing carbon dioxide.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs): Materials made from metallic and organic components, forming porous structures.
• PFAS: A family of synthetic chemicals that are believed to be toxic and persistent in the environment.
• Zeolites: Microporous, crystalline aluminosilicate minerals used as absorbents and catalysts.