Brits win Nobel Prize for Physics

By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent

Professor Andre Geim and Dr Konstantin Novoselov, at Manchester University, discovered that super-thin flakes of carbon take on unique properties that could revolutionise the electronics industry.

They produced the one atom thick material from a block of pencil lead or graphite using nothing more than sticky tape in 2004.

Despite its humble origins, the material forms "the perfect atomic lattice" – a bit like a microscopic chicken wire – and is set to revolutionise everything from computer chips, to home gadgets and even transport.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences lauded Prof Geim, 51, and Dr Novoselov, 36, for having "shown that carbon in such a flat form has exceptional properties that originate from the remarkable world of quantum physics".

Experiments with graphene could lead to the development of new material and 'the manufacture of innovative electronics,' the jury said.

Prof Geim is a Dutch national while Dr Novoselov holds British and Russian citizenship. Both are natives of Russia and started their careers in physics there.

Just one atom thick, graphene is the world's thinnest and strongest nano-material, almost transparent and able to conduct electricity and heat.

As a result, graphene is described as the best material to replace silicon semiconductors.

Graphene transistors would in theory be able to run at faster speeds and cope with higher temperatures than today's computer chips.

That would resolving a fast-growing problem facing chip engineers who want to boost power and shrink semiconductor size but without raising temperatures, the bugbear of computing.

Its transparency means it could potentially be used in touch screens and even solar cells on windows, and when mixed with plastics would provide light but super-strong composite materials for next-generation satellites, planes and cars.

The Nobel jury acknowledged that most of graphene's practical applications "exist only in our fantasies, but many are already being tested."

Prof Geim told the committee he was looking at emails and looking at archives when he got the call.

"I slept well, I didn't expect the Nobel Prize this year," he said, adding he was going straight back to work.

"In my opinion there are several categories of Nobel Prize winners, one which after getting the Nobel Prize stop doing anything for the rest of their life. It is a big disservice for the community," he said.

The other category of people, which he said he belonged to, were "people who think people think they won the Nobel Prize by accident so they start working even harder than before".

Nancy Rothwell, President and vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester, said they were "delighted" for the two scientists.

"This is fantastic news," she said. "We are delighted that Andre and Konstantin's work on graphene has been recognised at the very highest level by the 2010 Nobel Prize Committee.

"This is a wonderful example of a fundamental discovery based on scientific curiosity with major practical, social and economic benefits for society."

The award of the Nobel Prize means there are currently four Nobel Laureates at the University of Manchester.

Dr Mark Miodownik, Head of the Materials Research Group, King's College London, said: "The award of this Nobel Prize will bring a smile to the face of every scientist because it shows you can still get a Nobel Prize by mucking about in a lab.

"Professors Geim and Novoselov happened across graphene, a new material that has the potential to revolutionise electronics, by discovering they could pluck atomic layers of carbon from the lead of a pencil using nothing more sophisticated than sticky tape.

"It turns out that anyone who has ever held a pencil could have discovered this amazing new material, but it was Professors Geim and Novoselov who took the time to look carefully.

"Bravo! Another reason to recognise that British Science is a special culture, admired throughout the world for its originality and genius, and needs to be nurtured not cut by the government if they want to foster future technology and wealth in the UK."
Telegraph