QUICK FACTS
Date of Birth
1965
Amman, Jordan
Place of Birth
Why Featured?
Founding Father of Reticular Chemistry
BRIEF BIO
Omar Yaghi is a chemist of Palestinian heritage renowned for his pioneering work in the development of materials critical for clean energy storage and generation, water harvesting, and carbon dioxide capture. He has revolutionized the field of chemistry with his introduction and development of frameworks like MOFs, COFs, and ZIFs, which have the highest known surface areas, significantly impacting clean energy and environmental sustainability.
LAST UPDATED
DATE
Monday, January 26, 2026
MAJOR MILESTONES
Key dates & turning points
Earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1990.
Became an elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in 2019.
Received Saudi citizenship in 2021, honoring his contributions to science and his collaborative work in the Kingdom...See More
Won numerous prestigious awards, including the Wolf Prize in Chemistry in 2018 and the King Faisal International Prize in Science in 2015...See More
Co-founded H2MOF, focusing on the storage and generation of clean energy, showcasing his role as a leader in applying his research to real-world challenges...See More
CONTRIBUTIONS
What they did, and why it matters
Development of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), a new class of materials with vast applications in clean energy and environmental sustainability.
Invention of Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) and Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs), expanding the possibilities of molecular architecture.
Pioneering the field of Reticular Chemistry, which involves stitching molecular building blocks into extended structures by strong bonds.
Significant advancements in water harvesting from air, especially in arid environments, providing a potential solution to global water scarcity...See More
Contributions to clean energy technologies, including hydrogen and methane storage, carbon dioxide capture, and conversion, through his groundbreaking materials.
Disclaimer: This chat uses AI to generate responses inspired by the profile content and publicly available information. It does not represent the real person.
Last updated
Jan 26, 2026
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