AFM ITB Proudly Congratulates: Prof. Omar M. Yaghi, ITB’s Collaborator, Awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Bandung, October 2025 — The global scientific community celebrates a monumental achievement as the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded to Prof. Omar M. Yaghi (University of California, Berkeley), Prof. Susumu Kitagawa (Kyoto University), and Prof. Richard Robson (University of Melbourne) for their groundbreaking contributions to the development of Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) — crystalline porous materials that have revolutionized modern materials chemistry. The three scientists played key roles in developing three-dimensional metal–organic frameworks capable of absorbing, separating, and converting molecules at the atomic scale. Among them, Prof. Omar M. Yaghi is widely recognized as the pioneer of reticular chemistry — a modular synthetic strategy that enables atomically precise design of porous materials with remarkable structural stability.

The Revolutionary MOF-5: A Milestone in Reticular Chemistry

One of Prof. Yaghi’s landmark achievements is the discovery of the MOF-5 (Zn₄O(BDC)₃) structure, which employs Secondary Building Units (SBUs) composed of Zn₄O clusters and benzene dicarboxylate (BDC) linkers. This framework forms a robust crystalline network with exceptionally large pores and a surface area of up to 2,900 m² per gram, making it one of the most porous materials ever created. As illustrated in the Scientific Background to the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the MOF-5 framework (yellow cavities) symbolizes a revolution in gas storage, catalysis, and air purification.

“As a pioneer in reticular chemistry, Prof. Omar M. Yaghi introduced the MOF-5 framework, enabling molecularly engineered materials with atomic precision and extraordinary storage capabilities,” wrote the 2025 Nobel Committee for Chemistry.

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ITB–UC Berkeley Collaboration through the World Class Professor (WCP) A Program, 2017

Long before this Nobel recognition, the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), through its Research Center for Nanosains and Nanotechnology (PPNN), had established a scientific collaboration with Prof. Omar M. Yaghi under the World Class Professor (WCP) A Program, funded by the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia in 2017. The program, led by Prof. Ir. Hermawan K. Dipojono as Principal Investigator, aimed to strengthen ITB’s international research network in porous materials and nanotechnology.

The collaboration began when Prof. Brian Yuliarto met Prof. Yaghi at an international seminar, where Yaghi expressed his interest in collaborating with Indonesian scientists. Prof. Brian then coordinated with Prof. Hermawan K. Dipojono, who proposed realizing the partnership through the WCP scheme — with a firm belief that Prof. Omar Yaghi would one day become a Nobel Laureate. Later that year, Prof. Hermawan, Prof. Brian, and ITB researchers Dr. Aep Patah, Dr. M. Kemal Agusta, and Dr. Arie Wibowo visited UC Berkeley to meet Prof. Yaghi in person.

Prof. Hermawan fondly recalls the encounter:

“Prof. Yaghi welcomed us very warmly. He was humble and full of enthusiasm — even eager to introduce us to many brilliant scientists at UC Berkeley.”

Following the visit, Prof. Yaghi sent his close collaborators Dr. Kyle Cordova and Dr. Ha Lac Nguyen to PPNN ITB from November 23–30, 2017, where they conducted workshops, seminars, and hands-on research training for three months. This collaboration resulted in a joint international publication and marked the beginning of a long-term academic partnership between ITB and UC Berkeley in functional materials and nanotechnology.

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Continuing Vision and Future Hopes

Prof. Hermawan shared that Prof. Yaghi once envisioned the establishment of a UC Berkeley Satellite Laboratory in Indonesia, aiming to accelerate national research and innovation in advanced materials. Reflecting on the significance of the WCP program, he stated:

“The WCP program demonstrates that we can design collaborations with world-class scientists — even future Nobel laureates. However, it’s unfortunate that the program has since drifted from its original philosophy. I hope the collaboration with Prof. Yaghi’s team can continue, especially involving Indonesia’s young researchers.”

He further emphasized:

“We must learn from Nobel Prize winners — even from the nominees — because their dedication to science is extraordinary. Universities and government institutions should support and fund initiatives like this.”

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Photo Caption

ITB delegation visit to the University of California, Berkeley, during the World Class Professor (WCP) A Program, 2017. From left to right: Prof. Brian Yuliarto, Prof. Omar M. Yaghi, and Prof. Ir. Hermawan K. Dipojono shaking hands in Prof. Yaghi’s laboratory, the pioneer of Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs).

Illustration Caption

Structure of the iconic Metal–Organic Framework-5 (MOF-5, Zn₄O(BDC)₃) as presented in the Scientific Background to the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The framework consists of Zn₄O secondary building units connected by benzene dicarboxylate linkers, forming a three-dimensional crystalline network with large yellow pores — a milestone that inaugurated reticular chemistry and ushered in a new era of porous-material design for gas storage, catalysis, and air purification.