Interview about 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics

Transcript

hello and welcome from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences where we've just discovered who has been awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in physics joining me to discuss this year's prize is Professor inamar lrom the chairman of the Nobel Prize Nobel Prize Committee in physics Professor lundstrom thank you very much for joining us thank you could We Begi... Read More

Summary

In this interview, Professor Ingmar Lundstrom discusses the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics, which was awarded to Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov for their groundbreaking experiments with graphene, a two-dimensional material. Lundstrom explains the properties of graphene, how it was discovered, and its potential applications in various fields.

Questions & Answers

Q: Who were the recipients of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics?

The prize was awarded to Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov from the University of Manchester.

Q: What is graphene?

Graphene is the building block of graphite and consists of single mono layers of carbon atoms. It is one of the layers that make up graphite.

Q: Can you describe the structure of graphene?

Graphene has a honeycomb or chicken wire-like structure. If you increase its lateral dimensions by 100 million times, it would be only about three percent larger than the thickness of a chicken bayonet.

Q: How did Geim and Novoselov isolate graphene?

They used a piece of scotch tape to cleave a piece of graphite, obtaining thinner and thinner layers which were then placed on an oxidized silicon crystal. The oxidation of the silicon created interference changes that allowed them to spot a single layer of graphene.

Q: What makes graphene remarkable?

Graphene is thin, lightweight, strong, transparent, and an excellent conductor. These properties make it suitable for various applications, and it also serves as a fascinating material for fundamental research.

Q: What are some potential applications of graphene?

Graphene has potential applications in touch screens, solar cells, bendable electronics, gas sensors, and DNA sequencing. It can be used in these applications due to its transparency, conductivity, and ability to act as a filter for different molecules.

Q: Are there any graphene applications already on the market?

While some potential applications like touch screens have made progress, there are still no graphene applications on the market. Most of the discussed applications are still in the laboratory stage.

Q: Why did the Nobel Prize Committee choose to award Geim and Novoselov for their graphene discovery?

The isolation and identification of the first truly two-dimensional crystalline material, combined with the numerous potential applications within just six years, impressed the committee. The groundbreaking paper from 2004 served as the starting point for awarding the prize.

Q: Was Geim the first person to receive both an Ig Nobel Prize and a Nobel Prize?

While not confirmed, it is believed that Geim is the first person to receive an Ig Nobel Prize first and then a Nobel Prize later.

Q: Did the laureates have any reaction to receiving the Nobel Prize?

Lundstrom spoke to both laureates before the press conference, and they were both happy and in different stages of shock. Geim seemed less shocked, whereas Novoselov appeared quite surprised. Novoselov is also the youngest Nobel Prize winner since 1973.

Takeaways

Graphene, the two-dimensional material discovered by Geim and Novoselov, has revolutionized the field of physics. Its remarkable properties have opened up a wide range of potential applications in technology, biology, and more. Despite being discovered only six years prior to receiving the Nobel Prize, graphene has already shown great promise. However, most of its applications are still in the research and development phase, and there are currently no graphene products on the market.