The three scientists’ work is about how molecules can be built together into structures. The Nobel committee called it “molecular architecture”.
The men worked out how to build constructions with large spaces between the molecules, through which gases and other chemicals can flow.
These are called “metal-organic frameworks”. They can be used to extract water from desert air, capture carbon dioxide, or store toxic gases.
Professor Kitagawa works at Kyoto University in Japan, Professor Richard Robson is at University of Melbourne, Australia, and Professor Omar M. Yaghi is at the University of California, US.
It is the third science prize awarded this week. On Tuesday John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis won the Physics Nobel for their work on quantum mechanics that paved the way for the quantum computer.
On Monday three scientists’ work on how the immune system attacks hostile infections won them the prize for medicine.
One winner, Dr Fred Ramsdell, did not receive the news for 20 hours because he was on an off-grid hiking trip.
