This year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry marks a defining moment for a field that has revolutionised materials science and environmental technology: metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs, create "new rooms for chemistry". (Illustration ©Johan Jarnestad)

Master's student Jovan Nesvanulica explains MOFs, versatile materials with critical applications in clean energy, environmental engineering, medicine, and - here at Murdoch - forensics.

As a forensics master’s student, I have incorporated MOF chemistry to investigate strategies for crime scene DNA preservation. I have found working with these materials to be deeply gratifying and wish to share a bit about their enormous potential with you all!

MOFs are crystalline materials constructed from metal ions connected by organic linkers, forming a highly ordered, porous structure. They can be thought of as scaffolds resembling a three-dimensional network of rooms and hallways at the nanoscale. Each “room” in the network can be designed to selectively trap or host molecules, giving MOFs some of the highest surface areas and unmatched ability to be tailored chemically for specific purposes.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Susumu Kitagawa (Kyoto University), Richard Robson (University of Melbourne), and Omar M. Yaghi (University of California, Berkeley) for their pioneering work in creating and developing some of the first MOFs. Their research opened a new frontier in molecular architecture, essentially creating new “rooms for chemistry”. Through MOFs, researchers around the world have been able to design materials that store hydrogen for clean energy, capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, purify water, harvest moisture from desert air, and even encapsulate drugs or enzymes for targeted delivery. The laureates’ discoveries have inspired thousands of subsequent MOFs, each with unique functions, and established the foundation of what chemists now call “reticular chemistry”. Robson discovered some of the first MOF-like coordination networks in 1989, laying the structural groundwork for the field. Kitagawa developed techniques to stabilise MOF structures and control their porosity. Yaghi expanded the field, introducing reticular synthesis and demonstrating vast frameworks for gas storage and environmental use. This international trio represents the best of scientific collaboration; chemistry that began in curiosity-driven research has matured into a cornerstone of science.

MOFs matter because they tackle some of the most pressing global challenges — clean energy, climate change, and health. Their immense internal surface area means a single gram can have the surface area of an entire football field, allowing them to absorb gases like carbon dioxide more efficiently than any existing material. In medicine, MOFs act as nanoscale cages capable of carrying and releasing therapeutic molecules precisely where needed. In environmental remediation, they can trap pollutants, separate chemical mixtures, or break down contaminants in water. And in energy technology, MOFs are accelerating advances in hydrogen fuel storage, catalysis, and even wearable energy devices.

At Murdoch University, MOFs have played a central role in shaping my research direction and professional growth. Working with these frameworks through my Master’s project has given me hands-on experience in advanced materials synthesis, characterisation, and their translation into real-world forensics applications. This work has allowed me to bridge the gap in chemistry and forensic science, exploring how MOFs such as ZIF-8 can encapsulate and preserve biological evidence for extended periods, even under harsh environmental conditions. Beyond the laboratory, the journey has strengthened my analytical thinking, experimental design, and data interpretation skills, all essential for pursuing a future in research and applied science.

So for those of us researching MOFs today, including here at Murdoch, this award validates decades of effort across the globe and energises the next generation of chemists to explore how far these frameworks can go.