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The University of Limerick's Bernal Institute team has won the Academic Collaboration Award from SSPC Research Ireland for their partnership with Nobel laureate Prof Susumu Kitagawa of Kyoto University, recognized for his work on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The team, including Profs Michael Zaworotko, Soumya Mukherjee, and Matthias Vandichel, focuses on leveraging MOFs for applications in energy sustainability, carbon capture, and water harvesting.

Their recent paper addresses gas sorption behaviors in flexible porous materials. The collaboration started in 2013 and has since led to advancements in computational methods for MOF research. The Nobel recognition is expected to enhance interdisciplinary engagement and attract new researchers while aiming for scalable solutions in environmental technologies. Zaworotko emphasizes the need for better, cheaper, and greener materials to tackle global challenges.