Richard Smalley

Richard_Smalley

Richard Smalley
Born	June 6, 1943 Akron, Ohio, United States
Died	October 28, 2005 Houston, Texas, United States
Nationality	American
Alma mater	University of Michigan, Princeton University
Known for	Fullerenes, Nanotechnology
Awards	Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1996)
Scientific career
Fields	Chemistry, Physics
Institutions	Rice University
Doctoral advisor	Elliot R. Bernstein

Richard Errett Smalley (June 6, 1943 – October 28, 2005) was an American chemist and physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996 for his discovery of fullerenes, a new form of carbon. He was a leading figure in the field of nanotechnology and made significant contributions to the understanding of carbon structures.

Early Life and Education

Richard Smalley was born in Akron, Ohio, and grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. He developed an early interest in science and pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1965. He then went on to obtain his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Princeton University in 1973, under the supervision of Elliot R. Bernstein.

Career

After completing his doctorate, Smalley worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago before joining the faculty at Rice University in 1976. At Rice, he held the position of Gene and Norman Hackerman Professor of Chemistry and was also a professor in the Department of Physics.

Discovery of Fullerenes

In 1985, Smalley, along with his colleagues Robert Curl and Harold Kroto, discovered a new form of carbon known as fullerenes. This discovery was groundbreaking and led to the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to the trio in 1996. Fullerenes are molecules composed entirely of carbon, taking the form of a hollow sphere, ellipsoid, or tube. The most well-known fullerene is buckminsterfullerene (C60), which resembles a soccer ball.

Contributions to Nanotechnology

Smalley's work on fullerenes laid the foundation for the field of nanotechnology. He was a strong advocate for the potential of nanotechnology to revolutionize various industries, including medicine, energy, and materials science. He co-founded the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology at Rice University and was instrumental in promoting research and development in this emerging field.

Personal Life and Legacy

Richard Smalley was married twice and had two children. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1999 and battled the disease until his death in 2005. Despite his illness, he remained active in his research and advocacy for nanotechnology.

Smalley's contributions to science have had a lasting impact, and he is remembered as a pioneer in the field of nanotechnology. His work continues to inspire researchers and scientists around the world.

Related Pages

• Fullerene
• Nanotechnology
• Buckminsterfullerene
• Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• Rice University
• Robert Curl
• Harold Kroto