Kyoto University Distinguished Professor Susumu Kitagawa Among Three Recipients of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was announced on the 8th, with three individuals, including Kyoto University Distinguished Professor Susumu Kitagawa, being honored with the prestigious award. Professor Kitagawa and his colleagues were recognized for establishing a new field in materials science through their development of "Metal-Organic Frameworks" (MOFs), which possess countless minute pores.

MOFs have garnered attention as groundbreaking materials with various functions, including gas adsorption and separation, and catalytic reactions. Significant contributions to decarbonization technologies for global warming countermeasures are particularly expected, with applied research in areas such as efficient CO2 (carbon dioxide) capture and hydrogen storage progressing worldwide. Furthermore, their practical applications are diverse, ranging from maintaining the freshness of fruits, semiconductor manufacturing processes, and even the highly efficient separation of water and heavy water (announced in 2022), which is notoriously difficult.

Upon receiving news of the award, Professor Kitagawa humorously recounted at a press conference at Kyoto University, "Lately, I've been receiving a lot of strange solicitation calls. I answered one impatiently, only to be surprised when the caller identified himself as the chairman of the selection committee." Reflecting on his long research career, he expressed both joy and passion, stating, "The challenge of doing something new is the essence of being a scientist. While there have been many difficult times, I have enjoyed it for over 30 years."

This year's Nobel Prizes also saw Professor Shimon Sakaguchi of Osaka University selected for the Physiology or Medicine Prize, making this the second Japanese laureate. In response to this remarkable achievement, Nobel Chemistry laureate Ryoji Noyori offered his "heartfelt congratulations," while Shinya Yamanaka, Director of the Kyoto University iPS Cell Research Institute, sent a congratulatory message noting the "possibilities beyond imagination" in Professor Kitagawa's research.

Professor Kitagawa's research not only indicates a concrete path toward solving environmental problems but also re-demonstrates to the world the potential for Japan's scientific and technological leadership. This award is evidence of Japan's growing interdisciplinarity, raising expectations for further investment in future scientific fields and the development of researchers.

The Context

The Nobel Prizes, awarded annually for outstanding achievements in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace, are among the most prestigious accolades globally. While the announcement of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry in the current year is unusual (prizes are typically announced in October for the current year), the article highlights the profound impact of Dr. Susumu Kitagawa's work. His pioneering research on Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) has opened up new frontiers in materials science, particularly in addressing critical global challenges like climate change through carbon capture and hydrogen storage. This achievement, alongside Professor Shimon Sakaguchi's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, underscores Japan's continued excellence and strong contributions to fundamental science and innovation on the world stage, building upon a rich history of Japanese Nobel laureates.