Harry Kroto

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Sir Harold Kroto at CSICON 2011

Sir Harold Walter Kroto (7 October 1939 – 30 April 2016), known as Harry Kroto, was a British chemist and a co-recipient of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his co-discovery of fullerenes, a new form of carbon. His discovery, made with colleagues Richard Smalley and Robert Curl at Rice University in Texas, opened up new fields in chemistry and materials science.

Early Life and Education

Harry Kroto was born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England, to German parents who had fled the Nazi regime. He grew up in Bolton, Lancashire, where he developed an interest in chemistry, science, and graphics. Kroto attended the University of Sheffield, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in 1961 and his Ph.D. in 1964. His doctoral research focused on high-resolution electronic spectra of free radicals.

Career

After completing his Ph.D., Kroto worked on molecular spectroscopy as a research fellow at the National Research Council in Canada and later at the Bell Labs in the United States. In 1967, he returned to the UK to take up a position at the University of Sussex, where he would spend the majority of his academic career. At Sussex, he became a full professor in 1985 and was named a Royal Society Research Professor in 1991.

Kroto's research interests were broad and included the spectroscopic studies of carbon chains, which led to the discovery of C60, a molecule composed of 60 carbon atoms arranged in a structure similar to a soccer ball. This molecule was named buckminsterfullerene (or "buckyball") after the architect Buckminster Fuller, known for his geodesic domes which the molecule resembles. The discovery of C60 and other fullerenes significantly impacted various fields, including nanotechnology, materials science, and astrochemistry.

Nobel Prize

In 1996, Kroto, along with Richard Smalley and Robert Curl, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discovery of fullerenes. The Nobel Committee recognized their work for opening up an entirely new branch of chemistry.

Later Life and Legacy

Beyond his scientific achievements, Kroto was a passionate advocate for science education and communication. He founded the Vega Science Trust, a project aimed at creating high-quality science videos accessible to the public. He was also known for his work in promoting science in developing countries and was a critic of science's diminishing role in public policy.

Kroto held numerous honorary degrees and was a fellow of the Royal Society. He was knighted in 1996 for his contributions to chemistry and the community.

Sir Harold Kroto passed away on 30 April 2016, leaving behind a legacy that transcends his groundbreaking discovery. His work not only advanced the field of chemistry but also inspired countless individuals to pursue science and innovation.

See Also

• Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• Fullerenes
• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science