Honorable Plenary Lecture
Prof. Susumu KITAGAWA
北川進教授-京都大學
Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 2025
Pioneer of Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
Distinguished Professor, Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study (KUIAS)
Foreign Member of the Royal Society
About the Speaker
Professor Susumu Kitagawa is a world-renowned Japanese chemist and a founding pioneer in the field of coordination chemistry and Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs). His groundbreaking work established an entirely new class of porous materials, fundamentally transforming modern materials science.
He has held leading academic positions across major institutions in Japan. In 1997, he demonstrated that porous coordination polymers can adsorb gases, marking a pivotal breakthrough that launched the global development of MOFs.
He later introduced the concept of “Soft Porous Crystals”, revealing that these materials can dynamically respond to external stimuli. His research has enabled major advances in gas storage, carbon capture, catalysis, and sustainable energy systems.
Key Achievements
- Pioneer and founder of Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
- First to demonstrate gas adsorption in porous coordination polymers (1997)
- Proposed the concept of “Soft Porous Crystals”
- Developed materials for carbon capture
- Developed materials for gas storage and separation
- Developed materials for water harvesting
- Developed materials for clean energy applications
Honors & Recognition
- Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2025)
- Japan Academy Prize (2016)
- Medal with Purple Ribbon (2011)
- Humboldt Research Award (2008)
- Thomson Reuters Citation Laureate (2010)
- Member of the Japan Academy
- Foreign Member of the Royal Society
Lecture Overview
Design and Evolution of Metal–Organic Frameworks: From Discovery to Global Impact
Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline materials composed of metal ions and organic linkers, known for their exceptionally high surface areas and tunable structures.
In this plenary lecture, Professor Kitagawa will present the conceptual origins and scientific evolution of MOFs, highlighting their structural diversity and transformative impact on chemistry.