Claes-Göran Granqvist

Claes-Göran Granqvist. He is a Swedish physicist and materials scientist renowned for his pioneering research in electrochromic materials and energy-efficient windows. A professor emeritus at Uppsala University, his work has significantly advanced the fields of solar energy materials and nanotechnology for sustainable building technologies. Granqvist is a prolific author and an elected member of several prestigious international academies.

Biography

Claes-Göran Granqvist was born in Helsinki, Finland, and later moved to Sweden where he pursued his higher education. He earned his doctorate in physics from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg. Following his PhD, he held a postdoctoral position at the University of Chicago before returning to Sweden to begin his academic career. He joined the faculty at Uppsala University, where he established a leading research group in solid state physics and materials science, eventually becoming a full professor. His long tenure at Uppsala University has been marked by extensive international collaboration and mentorship.

Research and career

Granqvist's research career is centered on the development of advanced materials for energy efficiency and solar energy conversion. He is a world-leading expert on electrochromic devices, which are used in "smart windows" that can dynamically control solar radiation and visible light transmittance. His work on sputter deposition techniques for thin films has been instrumental in creating coatings for energy-efficient glazing. He has also made significant contributions to the understanding and application of nanoparticles, particularly in plasmonics and spectrally selective surfaces for solar absorbers. His research has been funded by organizations like the Swedish Research Council and the European Union's Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development.

Awards and honors

Throughout his career, Granqvist has received numerous accolades for his scientific contributions. He was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. He is also a Fellow of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, and a Fellow of the Institute of Physics. His work has been recognized with awards such as the Celsius Medal from the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala and the Innovator of the Year award from Uppsala University. He has delivered several named lectures, including the Gabor Lecture at the Imperial College London.

Selected publications

Granqvist is the author of hundreds of scientific papers and several influential books. His seminal monograph, *"Handbook of Inorganic Electrochromic Materials"*, published by Elsevier, is a key reference in the field. Other notable works include *"Solar Energy Materials"* in the journal Advanced Materials and *"Spectrally Selective Surfaces for Heating and Cooling Applications"* in the journal Applied Optics. His highly cited review articles on topics like nanomaterials for smart windows and atmospheric aerosols have appeared in publications such as Nature Materials and the Journal of Applied Physics.

Personal life

Claes-Göran Granqvist is married and has children. He maintains a residence in Uppsala and is known to be an avid reader with broad intellectual interests beyond science. He has been involved in academic leadership, serving on various committees for the Swedish Research Council and as a board member for scientific institutes. In his spare time, he enjoys classical music and is a supporter of the Royal Swedish Opera.

Category:Swedish physicists Category:Uppsala University faculty Category:1946 births Category:Living people