Omar M. Yaghi

Awarded for

The development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)

Shared with: Susumu Kitagawa (Japan), Richard Robson (Australia)

The story behind the prize

Metal–organic frameworks are crystals built from metal ions joined by organic molecules, full of tiny pores. A few grams can have an internal surface area as large as a football field. They can capture carbon dioxide, store gases and pull water from desert air; Kitagawa and Robson laid early foundations.

About

Chemist born in Amman, Jordan, to a Palestinian refugee family; professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

Exam facts

• MOFs are porous materials that can capture gases such as carbon dioxide or harvest water from desert air