Andre Geim pioneered the isolation of graphene, a one-atom-thick layer of carbon arranged in a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice. This discovery earned him the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics and established a new class of materials in solid-state physics. His career spans extensive research into nanotechnology, diamagnetic levitation, and mesoscopic superconductivity across institutions in Russia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Academic Foundation
Born in Sochi in 1958, Geim pursued his education at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, receiving his degree in 1982. He earned a Candidate of Sciences in Physics and Mathematics from the Institute of Solid State Physics within the Russian Academy of Sciences in 1987. Early professional roles included a research position at the Institute for Microelectronics Technology and post-doctoral fellowships at universities in Nottingham, Bath, and Copenhagen.
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In 1994, Geim accepted his first tenured position as an associate professor at Radboud University in Nijmegen. During his time in the Netherlands, he conducted studies on mesoscopic superconductivity. In 2001, he moved to the University of Manchester, where he later held the positions of Langworthy Professor from 2007 to 2013 and Regius Professor of Physics starting in 2013.
Graphene and Material Science
Geim is recognized for developing a method to isolate single atomic layers of graphite, which the team published in 2004. Graphene is characterized as an exceptionally thin and strong material with potential applications in flexible touchscreens. Beyond graphene, his research contributions include the development of gecko tape, a biomimetic adhesive designed to mimic the physical properties of gecko feet.
Magnetic Levitation and Recognition
Beyond his work in nanotechnology, Geim researched the effects of magnetism on water. This investigation resulted in the demonstration of direct diamagnetic levitation, famously evidenced by the levitation of a frog. This experiment earned him an Ig Nobel Prize in 2000. Throughout his career, he has been recognized with the Hughes Medal, the Carbon Medal, and the Körber European Science Prize.
Fast facts
- Born: 1958, Sochi
- Citizenship: United Kingdom
- Academic Degree: Candidate of Sciences in Physics and Mathematics
- Nobel Prize in Physics: 2010
- Regius Professor of Physics: 2013
- Major research fields: Nanotechnology and solid-state physics
- Notable innovation: Graphene isolation
Questions readers ask
What is graphene's significance?
Graphene is the world's thinnest material, consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms in a hexagonal structure, known for its strength and electrical properties.
How did he achieve diamagnetic levitation?
Geim utilized the intrinsic magnetism of water to counteract gravity, a process demonstrated in his research involving the levitation of a frog.
