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Graphene is an atomic-scale honeycomb lattice made of carbon atoms.
Earlier this month, the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, two Russian-born scientists working at the University of Manchester in England, for their pioneering work on graphene, a two-dimensional material consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. Graphene has a unique set of electrical and structural properties which makes it rich in both technological potential and interesting fundamental physics.
In 2004, Geim and Konstantin developed a technique to isolate single sheets of graphene from graphite, a material made of stacked layers of graphene, more commonly known as the “lead” used in pencils. Using Scotch tape, they peeled off successive layers of carbon until only one was left. This simple and ingenious method made graphene, an entirely new form of carbon, rapidly available to the entire scientific community.
Graphene has a truly remarkable amount of promising applications, most notably as a substrate for integrated circuits, the building blocks of modern computing. Electrons in graphene are able to move at relativistic speeds, a unique feature which could one day vastly improve the performance of electronic devices. In order to utilize the grand technological potential of graphene, its fundamental physical properties must be fully understood. While such research may not lead to immediate innovations, it is imperative for the success of future technologies.
Graphene is an excellent example of the important role of basic scientific research in generating major technological advancements. Many of graphene’s physical characteristics were established long before its experimental realization. For this reason, the scientific community recognized the significance of Geim and Konstantin’s discovery immediately and graphene-based research progressed on an extremely fast time line. Indeed, their experiment took only six years to be recognized as a Nobel Prize-worthy achievement.
Such quick scientific development would not have been possible without a long-term investment in the basic science of carbon materials. Within the United States, research in the physical sciences receives only a small fraction of the total amount of government funding appropriated to R&D. In the U.K., funding for scientific research is at risk of being severely reduced. However, fundamental research in physics and chemistry plays an integral part not only in the creation of new technologies, but also in helping to drive the world’s economy. This Nobel Prize serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting research in its early stages and the benefit to society such an investment can have for the future.
This Wednesday, the Baker Institute will be honoring two other Nobel Prize winners working in basic science research and nanotechnology. Robert Curl and Harold Kroto, the co-discovers of the buckyball and recipients of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (along with the late Richard Smalley, for whom Rice’s The Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology is named). The event is part of the Baker Institute Civic Scientist Lecture Series.
If you’d like to attend the lecture, limited seating is available. Please visit the event page for the Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010, lecture for more information. There will also be a live webcast.
Kenneth Evans is a graduate intern for the Baker Institute Science and Technology Policy Program. He is working on a Ph.D. in Applied Physics with Dr. Douglas Natelson and plans to graduate in 2013.
Kirstin Matthews is a fellow in science and technology policy at the Baker Institute. Her research focuses on the intersection between traditional biomedical research and public policy. Matthews’ current projects include the Baker Institute International Stem Cell Policy Program, the Civic Scientist Lecture Series and policy studies in research and development funding, genomics and climate change.