Susumu Kitagawa

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded jointly to Dr. Susumu Kitagawa (Japan), Dr. Omar M. Yaghi (USA), and Dr. Richard Robson (Australia) for their development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) — crystalline materials with vast internal networks capable of trapping, storing, and manipulating gases and molecules with atomic precision.

Dr. Kitagawa’s pioneering work in porous coordination polymers (PCPs) transformed chemistry into architecture — where atoms are the bricks and bonds are the blueprint.

His discoveries have opened doors to clean energy, environmental restoration, and the sustainable materials of the future.

(source: Reuters)

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Early Life and Education

Susumu Kitagawa was born in Kyoto, Japan, in 1951. As a young boy, he was fascinated by the hidden order of nature — from the structure of crystals to the patterns of air bubbles in water.

He studied chemistry at Kyoto University, earning his B.Sc. in 1972 and Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry in 1979.

After postdoctoral research at Monash University (Australia), Kitagawa returned to Japan, where he began investigating how metal ions and organic molecules could form large, porous networks — a field that was still in its infancy at the time. (source: BBC)

He would go on to become one of the world’s leading figures in coordination chemistry, blending scientific rigor with Japanese aesthetic simplicity.

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The Discovery — Porous Coordination Polymers (PCPs)

A New Way to Build Matter

In the early 1990s, Kitagawa and his team made a breakthrough by designing porous coordination polymers — a class of crystalline materials where metal ions act as nodes and organic linkers form bridges, creating intricate 3D frameworks.

These materials could absorb and release gases much like a sponge soaks up water — but at the molecular level.

This marked the birth of a new scientific discipline: reticular chemistry, which would later give rise to metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). (source: Nature)

The Breathable Crystal

In 1997, Kitagawa made one of his most celebrated discoveries — a “breathing” coordination polymer that could expand or contract in response to external conditions such as gas pressure or temperature.

“It was as if the crystal was alive — inhaling and exhaling molecules,” Kitagawa recalled in an interview. (source: AP)

This finding was revolutionary. It showed that solid materials could have dynamic, controllable porosity, a property now critical to gas storage, catalysis, and environmental cleanup.

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Global Impact — Chemistry for a Sustainable Future

Field	Application
Gas Storage	Hydrogen and methane capture for clean fuel technologies.
Carbon Capture	Selective absorption of CO₂ from industrial emissions.
Environmental Cleanup	Removal of pollutants and toxins at the molecular level.
Catalysis	Tunable reaction environments for precision chemical synthesis.
Smart Materials	Dynamic structures that respond to stimuli like heat, pressure, and light.

(source: Nature Chemistry, Science Daily)

Kitagawa’s discoveries helped turn chemistry into a design science — creating materials with purpose, engineered for sustainability.

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Academic and Research Leadership

Dr. Kitagawa is currently the Distinguished Professor at Kyoto University and Director of the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) — a research center that merges chemistry, biology, and materials science. (source: Reuters)

Under his leadership, iCeMS has become one of Japan’s most prestigious scientific institutions, emphasizing interdisciplinary research and global collaboration.

He is also a passionate mentor, known for his humility and belief that “scientific discovery is a collective poem, written by many minds over time.” (source: BBC)

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The 2025 Nobel Prize — Recognition of a Vision Realized

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences honored Kitagawa, Yaghi, and Robson for “creating metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) that combine atomic-level architecture with unprecedented surface functionality.”

At the Nobel ceremony, Kitagawa reflected on the human side of his work:

“Porous materials remind us that emptiness, when organized, can hold great potential — just like space in art, or silence in music.” (source: AP)

His poetic interpretation of chemistry captivated scientists and the public alike, underscoring his unique ability to fuse science with philosophy.

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Honors and Awards

Dr. Kitagawa’s groundbreaking work has earned him numerous accolades, including:

• Japan Academy Prize (2005)
• The Chemical Society of Japan Award (2006)
• The Humboldt Research Award (2009)
• The Thomson Reuters Citation Laureate in Chemistry (2010)
• Japan Prize (2020)
• Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2025)

(source: Nature, The Guardian)

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Legacy and Influence

1. Architect of Porous Chemistry

Kitagawa’s concepts of breathing crystals and framework materials established the design principles that underpin modern MOF technology.

2. Bridging Science and Aesthetics

His philosophy reflects a distinctly Japanese balance between simplicity and complexity — seeing structure and void as complementary forces.

3. Mentorship and Collaboration

Over his career, Kitagawa has mentored hundreds of scientists across Asia and Europe, promoting open science and cultural exchange.

4. Environmental Legacy

His innovations have become vital to global sustainability efforts — from clean energy to carbon neutrality. (source: Science Daily)

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Who is Dr. Susumu Kitagawa?

A Japanese chemist and Nobel Laureate recognized for his discovery of porous coordination polymers, foundational to the development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs).

Q2. What did he win the Nobel Prize for?

For developing porous materials with tunable structures capable of gas storage and molecular capture.

Q3. What is a “breathing crystal”?

A dynamic porous material that expands and contracts in response to environmental stimuli like gas adsorption.

Q4. Where does he work?

At Kyoto University, where he leads the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS).

Q5. Why is his work important?

It revolutionized materials chemistry and created new pathways for sustainable technologies, including clean energy and carbon capture.

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Conclusion

Dr. Susumu Kitagawa’s work reveals a profound truth: structure and space are equally essential to function.

Through his pioneering research on porous coordination polymers, he has shown how chemistry can not only build matter but shape the future of energy, environment, and humanity itself.

His vision — that atoms can form living architectures — continues to inspire a new generation of scientists to view chemistry not merely as a science of matter, but as an art of design.

“To create something useful, one must first imagine its beauty.” — Susumu Kitagawa

Sources: Reuters, AP, BBC, Nature, The Guardian, Science Daily, Nobel Committee.