"Everyone should stick to the job they love" said the thirty six year old Russian scientist Dr. Konstantin Novoselov, who just received the Nobel Prize in physics, Dr. Novoselov visited our NTHU recently and gave a lecture on November 16^th to share his thoughts and experience in scientific research.

Dr. Novoselov and his co-researcher, Prof. André Feim will be awarded with his year's Nobel Prize in physics for their work in the discovery of miraculous grapheme. Prof. Geim was also the Ph.D. advisor of Dr. Novoselov a few years ago. Both laureates are working at Manchester University, and both were originally from Russia. According to the press release of the Nobel Prize Committee: "Playfulness is one of their hallmarks, one always learns something in the process and, who knows, you may even hit the jackpot. Like now when they, with grapheme, write themselves into the annals of science." In the ago of "big" science, it is indeed refreshing and gratifying to see "small" science makes grand impact!

Dr. Novoselov indicated that graphene is a two-dimensional structure material, only as thick as a carbon atom. For a long time, scientists thought this two-dimensional crystal couldn't have a stabilized existence and some previous manufacturing processes ended in failure. In 2004, their research team, using Scotch tape, repeatedly taped and tore graphene to gradually reduce its thickness. In the end, after going through tons of thin slices under the microscope, they finally found a graphene which was only the thickness of a carbon atom.

He pointed out that graphene has an extraordinary properties for conducting electricity and heat. In perspective future application, it can be synthesize to increase both electric and nature properties; and it is suitable for making high performance copper indium gallium selenide. Moreover, it can be used on touch screen, flexible electric paper or solar batteries.