Usefulness of the useless-How MOFs transformed the concept of porous matter

Professor Susumu Kitagawa, Kyoto University, Institute for Advanced Study, will present this free public lecture as the keynote address as part of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Alumni Association in Australia (JSPSAAA) Symposium.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are remarkable materials with an extraordinary ability to capture, store and separate molecules. Often described as molecular sponges, they can trap carbon dioxide, harvest water from dry air and help remove harmful pollutants, offering new ways to address some of the world’s most pressing environmental and energy challenges.

In his first lecture in Australia since receiving the Nobel Prize in Chemistry alongside Professors Richard Robson and Omar M Yaghi, Nobel laureate Professor Susumu Kitagawa will share the story behind the discovery and development of MOFs. He will explore their conceptual origins, scientific evolution and emergence as one of the most influential fields in modern chemistry.

Professor Kitagawa will discuss how advances in molecular architecture have transformed our understanding of porous materials and unlocked applications with global significance. From carbon capture and clean energy technologies to water harvesting and environmental remediation, this lecture will highlight how designing space at the molecular scale is helping create a more sustainable future.

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