Kostya Novoselov

Kostya Novoselov
Name	Kostya Novoselov
Caption	Novoselov in 2010
Birth date	23 August 1974
Birth place	Nizhny Tagil, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Nationality	Russian, British
Fields	Condensed matter physics, mesoscopic physics
Workplaces	University of Manchester, National University of Singapore
Alma mater	Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Radboud University Nijmegen
Doctoral advisor	Jan Kees Maan, Andre Geim
Known for	Graphene
Prizes	Nobel Prize in Physics (2010), Knight Bachelor (2012), FRS (2011)

Kostya Novoselov is a Russian-British physicist renowned for his pioneering work on the two-dimensional material graphene. He is a professor at the National University of Singapore and a research professor at the University of Manchester, where much of his groundbreaking research was conducted. Together with his mentor and collaborator Andre Geim, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010 for "groundbreaking experiments regarding the two-dimensional material graphene." Novoselov's work has had a profound impact on condensed matter physics, nanotechnology, and materials science, opening new avenues for research and technological innovation.

Early life and education

Kostya Novoselov was born in Nizhny Tagil, a city in the Ural Mountains of the former Soviet Union. He demonstrated an early aptitude for science and technology, which led him to pursue advanced studies in physics. He completed his undergraduate education at the prestigious Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, a leading institution for scientific research in Russia. For his doctoral work, Novoselov moved to the Netherlands, where he joined the Radboud University Nijmegen and worked under the supervision of Jan Kees Maan and Andre Geim. His PhD research focused on mesoscopic physics and superconductivity, laying a strong foundation for his future investigations into novel materials.

Career and research

Following the completion of his doctorate, Novoselov followed Andre Geim to the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, initially as a postdoctoral researcher. He quickly established himself as a key member of the Condensed Matter Physics Group at Manchester. In 2007, he was appointed a Professor of Physics at the University of Manchester, becoming one of the youngest professors in the institution's history. His research portfolio extends beyond graphene to include investigations into other two-dimensional materials, such as boron nitride and transition metal dichalcogenides, as part of a broader field now known as van der Waals heterostructures. In 2019, he expanded his academic roles by taking a position at the National University of Singapore.

Graphene and Nobel Prize

The most celebrated achievement of Novoselov's career is the isolation and characterization of graphene in 2004, accomplished through a remarkably simple technique using adhesive tape. This work, conducted with Andre Geim at the University of Manchester, demonstrated that single-atom-thick layers of carbon could be stable under ambient conditions. Their experiments revealed graphene's extraordinary properties, including exceptional electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength. This groundbreaking discovery earned Novoselov and Geim the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010. The award recognized not only the isolation of the material but also the initiation of a vast new area of research with potential applications in electronics, composites, and sensors.

Other scientific contributions

Beyond graphene, Novoselov has made significant contributions to the study of other two-dimensional and layered materials. He has pioneered the concept of creating custom-designed heterostructures by stacking different atomically thin crystals, a field explored at institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University. His work on materials such as molybdenum disulfide has advanced the development of flexible electronics and novel optoelectronic devices. Novoselov also investigates the fundamental physics of these systems, contributing to our understanding of quantum Hall effect phenomena and other electronic behaviors in low-dimensional structures.

Awards and honors

Novoselov has received numerous prestigious awards and honors throughout his career. The pinnacle was the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics, shared with Andre Geim. In 2011, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, one of the highest accolades in British science. He was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 2012 New Year Honours for services to science. Other notable recognitions include the Körber European Science Prize, the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics Young Scientist Prize, and the Royal Society's Hughes Medal. He holds honorary doctorates from several universities, including the University of Antwerp and the University of Zurich.

Personal life

Kostya Novoselov maintains a relatively private personal life. He is a citizen of both Russia and the United Kingdom. He is known to be an avid art collector and has expressed a deep interest in the intersection of art and science, occasionally collaborating with artists on projects that explore scientific concepts. Novoselov is also a proponent of scientific outreach, frequently participating in public lectures and events to communicate the excitement of physics and materials research to broader audiences. His work continues to inspire a new generation of scientists across the globe.

Category:Russian physicists Category:British physicists Category:Nobel Prize in Physics laureates Category:Fellows of the Royal Society Category:Knights Bachelor Category:University of Manchester faculty Category:National University of Singapore faculty