Nobel for super strong carbon-Russia-born UK duo get Physics Nobel for ultra-thin carbon find-06/10/2010

06/10/2010

Nobel for super strong carbon

Russia-born UK duo get Physics Nobel for ultra-thin carbon find



Professor Andre Geim, left, and Dr Konstantin Novoselov who have have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics pose for pictures outside Manchester University, Manchester, England, Tuesday, Oct, 5, 2010.

Stockholm: Two Russia-born scientists shared the Nobel Prize in physics on Tuesday for "groundbreaking experiments" with the thinnest, strongest material known to mankind -- a carbon vital for creation of faster computers and touch screens.

Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, professors at the University of Manchester in Britain, in 2004 isolated graphene, a form of carbon only one atom thick but more than 100 times stronger than steel, and showed it has exceptional properties, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.

Experiments with graphene could lead to the development of new superstrong materials to make satellites, airplanes, as well as innovative electronics, the academy said announcing the $1.5 million award.

"Graphene transistors are predicted to be substantially faster than silicon transistors and result in more efficient computers," the academy said in the citation.

"Since it is practically transparent and a good conductor, graphene is suitable for producing transparent touch screens, light panels and may be solar cells," the academy added.

Geim, 51, is a Dutch national while Novoselov, 36, holds British and Russian citizenship. Both are natives of Russia and started their careers there. Novoselov is among the youngest winners of a prize.






The scientists shared the Nobel Prize in physics on Tuesday for "groundbreaking experiments" with the thinnest, strongest material known to mankind a carbon vital for the creation of faster computers and transparent touch screens.

Geim said he didn't expect to win the prize this year and had forgotten that it was Nobel time when the prize committee called him from Stockholm. The two scientists used simple Scotch tape as a crucial tool in their experiments, peeling off thin flakes of graphene from a larger piece of graphite, Geim said.

"It's a humble technique. But the hard work came later," he said, comparing the material to plastics in its ability to revolutionise the world. "It's a shock," Novoselov said.

"I started my day chatting on Skype over new developments -- it was quite unexpected." "This was a well-deserved award," said Phillip F Schewe, spokesman for American Institute of Physics in College Park, Maryland. "Graphene is the thinnest material in the world, it's one of the strongest," Schewe said.

The 2010 Nobel Prize announcements started Monday with the medicine award going to Robert Edwards for work that led to the first test tube baby. The chemistry prize will be given Wednesday, followed by literature Thursday, the peace prize Friday and economics on Monday.

Source: AP