不良研究所

A University of 不良研究所 research group got a shout out recently when the winners of the prestigious were announced.

On Oct. 8, Drs. Susumu Kitagawa of Kyoto University; Omar Yaghi of the University of California, Berkeley; and Richard Robson of the University of Melbourne, all PhD, were announced as recipients of the international award.

The trio received the Nobel for the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which are materials that can act like tiny sponges. These materials can be customized to selectively attract different molecules, allowing for versatility in drug delivery and energy storage, all the way to environmental remediation.

, PhD, a professor in the in U不良研究所鈥檚 , says he knew the time was coming for MOFs to receive the prestigious award.

鈥淥ne of our compounds, called 不良研究所 Framework 20 or , was actually highlighted as an example of carbon capture,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t was really exciting to see that.鈥�

As the lead investigator of the , Shimizu, along with other scientists, proved these substances could be stable and scaled for industry use.

The story of CALF-20: more than 10 years of innovation and development

CALF-20 was first discovered by researchers working in Shimizu鈥檚 lab in 2013. Even at the time, they were calling it 鈥渕agic MOF鈥� due to its remarkable stability.

鈥淚t could be boiled for weeks, which, in most cases, would rip a MOF apart,鈥� says Nick Fylstra, a PhD candidate whose thesis is based on CALF-20. 

鈥沦别辫补谤补迟颈苍驳 CO2 (carbon dioxide) from water can be difficult for other MOFs, but CALF-20 can, and that was a game changer.鈥�

The results of a pilot demonstration using , receiving more than 80,000 downloads and 600 citations to date. The results from this paper represent a tour-de-force effort to validate and turn a discovery into a real product that makes cutting carbon emissions economical.

CALF-20鈥檚 performance was cited by the Nobel Committee as the benchmark example for industrial-scale carbon capture by MOF.

Having U不良研究所 research highlighted led to excitement for everyone from former students to senior leaders on campus. 

鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled George Shimizu鈥檚 groundbreaking work is receiving global recognition by the Nobel Committee,鈥� says U不良研究所 President and Vice-Chancellor Ed McCauley. 

鈥淗is CALF-20 compound is a revolutionary breakthrough on its own, with application for carbon capture on an industrial scale. 

鈥淭his invention by George鈥檚 research group is an exciting piece in the overall development of metal-organic frameworks that have widespread potential for solving some of society鈥檚 biggest challenges.鈥�

Faculty of Science Dean says metal-organic frameworks are a fascinating area of study. 

鈥淭his Nobel Prize-winning work exemplifies how fundamental research leads to transformative innovation,鈥� she says.

鈥淭hat innovation is occurring at the U不良研究所 Faculty of Science, where George Shimizu鈥檚 MOF CALF-20 is making significant strides in carbon capture.鈥�

Other opportunities related to CALF-20

Fylstra co-founded , a company that uses CALF-20 to take the CO2 released by yeast during beer fermentation and purify it for further reuse in the brewing industry. The company is on the verge of fundraising.

鈥淏eer emits CO2 as it ferments, but breweries buy CO2 because it鈥檚 just too expensive to consider capturing and reusing it,鈥� says Fylstra.

Fylstra adds the recognition by the Nobel Committee 鈥渉ighlights the value of what鈥檚 been discovered about the material, but I don鈥檛 think we鈥檝e seen everything that CALF-20 can do just yet.鈥�

Dr. Adrien C么t茅, PhD'04, has fond memories of working in Shimizu鈥檚 lab. He has since worked with Nobel Laureate Yaghi; became executive director at Velocity, the University of Waterloo鈥檚 entrepreneurship centre and business incubator; and is now the CEO of Shimizu鈥檚 new venture, , a company whose mission is to simplify carbon capture using CALF-20. 

鈥淲orking with George and Omar pushed your capacity as a scientist and an individual,鈥� says C么t茅. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e the type of advisors who help you see what your potential could be and encourage you to go for it.鈥�

Existent provides MOF sorbents that simplify industrial separations. 

鈥淚t can reduce complexity and costs, unlocking solutions that are currently blocked due to economics,鈥� C么t茅 says. 鈥淗igh-impact research that pushes the boundaries of knowledge and challenges what鈥檚 possible is essential.

鈥淗earing about the Prize was humbling. I think in a world where excellence in general is not recognized enough, it's nice to know that you鈥檙e a part of something that was recognized as being excellent.鈥�

Shimizu says he鈥檚 also humbled that his team鈥檚 discoveries contributed to the award, particularly because he knows two of the laureates.

鈥淚鈥檝e told both Kitagawa and Yaghi how important their work was for me, on a personal level,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here are a few times in your career when you see talks that completely change your perspective on something. What they showed was so revolutionary, they鈥檙e really inspirations.鈥�