Konstantin Sergeevich Novoselov: biography, scientific and public activities, awards and prizes. Nobel Prize in Physics (2010)

A famous Russian physicist who also received British citizenship and a knightly title, a member of the Royal Society of London, a Nobel laureate in physics. Who is he? Novoselov Konstantin Sergeevich!

Biography

A well-known scientist was born in the city of Nizhny Tagil, Sverdlovsk region, on August 23, 1974, in the family of an engineer and teacher in English at school No. 39, whose founder and director was once his grandfather Viktor Konstantinovich Novosyolov.

Being in the sixth grade, Konstantin discovers outstanding abilities and takes the first place in the regional Olympiad in physics, and a little later, at the All-Union Olympiad, he repeats the success by entering the top ten. In 1991 he graduated from the additional Correspondence Physical and Technical School and in the same year became a student of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. He studies nanotechnology at the Faculty of Physics and Quantum Electronics, and graduates with honors from the Institute, after which he is recruited at IPTM RAS (Institute of Microelectronics Technology Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences) in Chernogolovka. There he graduated from the postgraduate course under the leadership of Yuri Dubrovsky.

Abroad

In 1999, Konstantin Sergeevich Novoselov, a physicist with a well-established reputation, moved to the Netherlands. There, at the University of Nijmegen, he works together with Andrei Geim. Since 2001, scientists have been working together at the University of Manchester. In 2004 he received a Ph.D. (the head of Jan-Kees Maan).

At the moment, Konstantin Sergeevich Novoselov is a professor at the Royal Society and professor of physics and mathematics at Manchester University and has dual citizenship (Russia and the United Kingdom). Now he lives in Manchester.

Research

What is known Konstantin Sergeevich Novoselov? According to the analytical agency Thomson Reuters, the Russian-British physicist is one of the most frequently cited scientists. Out of his pen came out 190 scientific articles. However, his most significant research is, of course, graphene. Many people have heard this word, which sounds simple and familiar. The technology is really laconic and elegant, like all ingenious. Further study of graphene and its application may introduce humanity into an era of ultra-fast and ultra-thin mobile and computer devices, electric cars and durable, but very lightweight designs.

Awards

When Konstantin Sergeyevich Novoselov began to work at the University of Manchester, his supervisor was a senior colleague from Russia, Andrei Geim. By that time, he had long been engaged in research in this field and was able to reproduce the mechanism of sticking gecko clutches, and on the basis of it created a sticky tape, which physicists later used to work with graphene. Before that, a certain Chinese student was helping Heim, but, according to the physicist himself, the work began to advance only after Novoselov Konstantin Sergeevich took up the job. The Nobel Prize was awarded to them in October 2010. Novoselov is now known as the youngest Nobel laureate in physics (over the past 37 years), moreover, at the moment he is the only scientist among Nobel Prize winners born after 1970.

In the same year 2010, Novoselov received the title of commander of the Order of the Netherlands Lion for a significant contribution to the science of the Netherlands, and a little later, in 2011, the decree of Queen Elizabeth ll makes him a knight-bachelor, already for his contribution to the science of Great Britain. The solemn ceremony of knighting was held a little later, in the spring of 2012, as expected, at Buckingham Palace. She was led by her daughter, the Queen, Princess Anna.

I must say that Konstantin Novoselov, whose scientific and public activities are very extensive, received another prestigious award for graphene research, becoming the winner of the Eurofizika award in 2008. It is awarded every two years, the Nobel laureates among its prizes were only thirteen. The bonus is a monetary reward and a corresponding certificate. He also received the Kurti Award, but not for graphene, but for a list of achievements in working with the sphere of low temperatures and magnetic fields.

About family and life

Konstantin Novoselov is happy in marriage with his wife Irina. Although it is also Russian, scientists have met abroad, in the Netherlands. Irina is from Vologda, is engaged in research in the field of microbiology, Ph.D. (defended her thesis in St. Petersburg). The couple have two daughters, Twins Sophia and Vika were born in 2009.

Konstantin Sergeyevich, in his own words, is not the father who has been sitting in the laboratory for weeks, skipping the childhood of his children. For him to invent the world's smallest transistor and teach the daughter to count to twenty-seven - something standing in one row. "Nobody ever did this before you," he says.

In turn, his parents never tried to restrict his son in the interests. They were always sure that their son is very gifted, and, as the physicist himself says, they were not surprised when he received the Nobel Prize.

In an interview for the magazine Esquire, he admitted that he dreams of learning how to play the piano. He is trained, however, by his own admission, the results so far are mediocre.

About the USSR

Konstantin Sergeevich was born in the USSR and received an excellent education. He himself admits that such profound knowledge is few where you can get. But he does not intend to return to Russia. Perhaps, it is because of this that some journalists involuntarily reproach him for lack of patriotism. To this, the scientist responds that it's not about money, it's just that in Britain it's easier to work, because nobody interferes in your affairs.

Novoselov refers to life easily, does not focus on failures - this is one of his main rules. If there are difficulties in dealing with people, he tries not to lead to a break, but, if it is inevitable, he leaves the last word for another person. A famous physicist has a lot of ordinary life problems, for example, he would be willing to spend any money just to get some free time.

But he does not divide his life into work and rest, perhaps this is the key to the scientist's productivity. At home he thinks about physics, but at work - just resting his soul.

What is graphene

Despite, of course, all achievements in physics, the main work of Novoselov was and still is graphene. This structure, which was first obtained in laboratory conditions by our compatriots, is a two-dimensional "grid" of carbon atoms with a thickness of just one atom. Sam Novoselov argues that the technology is not difficult and anyone can create graphene, almost from improvised means. He says that it's enough to buy good graphite, although you can even use pencils, and also spend a little on silicon substrates and scotch tape. Everything, the set for creating graphene is ready! Thus, the material will not become the property of exceptionally large corporations, Novoselov and Geim literally gave it to the whole world.

Amazing Properties

Also the physicist is surprised by the electronic properties of this material. According to him, graphene can be used in transistors, which they are trying to do now in some companies, replacing the usual details in mobile devices.

According to Novoselov, graphene will revolutionize technology. An integral part of any fantasy film is incredible gadgets, transparent, subtle, not beating and with huge functionality. If graphene gradually replaces obsolete silicon, technology from cinema will appear in life.

What else is remarkable about Novoselov and Geim's research? The fact that they almost instantly migrated from the laboratories to the conveyors, and even more - were very useful in the early years.

Future technologies

Where is graphene now applied? It would seem that so recently open material could not yet spread widely, and in part this is indeed so. Virtually all developments are still experimental in nature and not released into mass production. However, this material is now being used literally in all spheres, which, perhaps, can be called a real "graphene fever".

Graphene itself, despite its light weight and almost full transparency (it absorbs 2% of the transmitted light, exactly the same as ordinary window glass), the material is very durable. Recent studies by American scientists have shown that graphene mixes perfectly with plastic. This as a result gives an extremely strong material that can be used in all areas, from furniture and mobile phones production to rocket engineering.

From graphene, prototypes of accumulators for electric cars have already been created. They feature high capacity and short charging times. Perhaps this is how the problem with electric vehicles will be solved, and transport will become cheap and environmentally friendly.

Graphene is used in the development of new touch panels for phones. If the classic sensors can only work on a flat surface, then graphene this lack is deprived, because it can be bent as you like. In addition, high electrical conductivity will make the response minimal.

In aviation

Shells of missiles and aircraft made with the use of graphene will be several times lighter, which will greatly reduce the cost of fuel. Flights will become so cheap that everyone can afford to travel to the other side of the world. But, in addition to passenger transportation, this will affect, of course, and freight. The supply of remote corners of the planet will become much better, which means that more people will live and work there.