Relevance: GS-III – Science & Technology; Environment
News and Science
- The prize honours Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi for creating metal–organic frameworks—crystal-like materials where metal nodes are linked by organic linkers to form a rigid net with designed pores.
- Think of a sturdy hotel made of nanoscale rooms. These rooms give an enormous internal surface area. Gases and liquids cling to the walls by adsorption (not absorption) and can be released by gentle heating or pressure change.
- Because the network can be “drawn” in advance—a field called reticular chemistry—scientists tune pore size, shape and surface chemistry to pick one molecule over another, or even to host active sites for catalysis.
Applications
Where you will see it
- Carbon dioxide capture from cement and power stacks → supports India’s Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategy and emerging carbon markets.
- Hydrogen and methane storage for clean mobility and backup power → dovetails with the National Green Hydrogen Mission and the National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage.
- Water-from-air harvesting for arid belts and disasters → complements Jal Jeevan Mission where groundwater is brackish.
- Air and water purification and sensing of toxic gases and metals → aligns with the National Clean Air Programme.
- Green catalysis in fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals → lowers solvents, energy and waste; supports domestic manufacturing.
Benefits vs limits
- Pros: design freedom, very high uptake at mild conditions, regenerable use.
- Limits: moisture/heat stability varies by family; cost and supply of linkers; scale-up and end-of-life rules still evolving.
India’s Policy Check
- Create standards and testing (durability, regeneration cycles, contamination limits) under the Bureau of Indian Standards.
- Fund first-of-a-kind demonstration plants for carbon capture using advanced sorbents.
- Build domestic supply chains for low-cost linkers; support public procurement pilots in water, clean-air and industrial decarbonisation missions.
Key terms
metal–organic framework • reticular chemistry • pore topology • surface area • adsorption/desorption • selectivity • isotherm • post-synthetic modification • heterogeneous catalysis • membrane separation • stability window
Exam hook
Key takeaways
- Nobel-winning metal–organic frameworks make space inside matter useful—storing clean fuels, capturing pollution and purifying water.
- India already researches these materials; the next step is scale with stability through standards, pilots and domestic linkers.
- Clear links to national missions: green hydrogen, clean air, safe water and low-emission industry.
UPSC Prelims question
Q. With reference to metal–organic frameworks, consider the following statements:
- They are crystalline networks built by linking metal nodes with organic molecules to create pores.
- They store gases mainly by adsorption on internal surfaces.
- Their pore size and chemical behaviour can be tuned during synthesis.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
One-line wrap
This Nobel makes “room” inside materials—and if India backs standards and pilots, that room can power cleaner air, safer water and low-carbon industry.
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