Nobel Prize in Chemistry Honors Japanese Scientist for Pioneering Porous Materials

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On October 8, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry will be awarded to three scientists, including Susumu Kitagawa, a distinguished professor at Kyoto University. 

Kitagawa will share the prize with collaborators Richard Robson, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne, and Omar M Yaghi, Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley.

They were recognized for developing a new kind of molecular architecture known as a "metal-organic framework." These structures contain numerous microscopic holes and open up new possibilities for addressing environmental and energy challenges.

The Team's Discovery 

Porous materials, such as activated carbon, contain many tiny cavities and have long been used to adsorb harmful substances and odor-causing agents. 

However, unless their framework is inorganic, they tend to be unstable and prone to breaking.

The metal-organic frameworks developed by Kitagawa and his team feature a structure in which organic compounds are arranged in a lattice around metal ions. 

Their nanoscale pores — each about one nanometer, or one-billionth of a meter — form a three-dimensional framework assembled like a jungle gym. This unique structure combines improved stability and functionality.

The material can selectively adsorb and store specific gases, such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen, from air or water. Anticipated applications include removing environmental pollutants and storing hydrogen gas, which is gaining attention as a next-generation energy source. 

Kyoto Cheers New Laureate

When news of the award reached Kyoto University on Wednesday evening, dozens of journalists and university staff gathered in the university hall. Shortly after 6:45 PM, when Kitagawa's award was confirmed, cheers erupted, followed by a round of applause.

With this latest award, the number of Japanese Nobel laureates has reached 30 individuals and one organization. 

The award ceremony will take place in Stockholm on December 10, with a total prize of 11 million Swedish kronor (about $1.17 million USD) shared by the three laureates.

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Author: JAPAN Forward and The Sankei Shimbun

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