Nobel laureate lectures during visit to Rice

Nobel laureate Sir Konstantin Novoselov told a full house at Duncan Hall March 20 that the discovery of graphene was just the beginning of an ongoing revolution in two-dimensional materials. Combining graphene with other flat materials will enable the creation of new and useful hybrids like self-adjusting contact lenses and functionalized membranes with medical and other applications, he said. The University of Manchester professor shared the 2010 Nobel Prize in physics with colleague Andre Geim for the 2004 discovery of graphene, an atom-thick lattice of carbon that is very strong and highly conductive. Novoselov lectured to students and faculty while visiting the Rice campus to tour the lab of chemist and graphene expert James Tour, who served as moderator for the presentation. Above, Novoselov, at right, answers questions as Tour moderates the discussion. (Photo by Tommy LaVergne)