Nobel Prize winner's delight at Government's backing for 'wonder material' discovered in Manchester

By James Booker

One of the University of Manchester scientists responsible for the discovery of a 'wonder-material', has spoken of his excitement at a £50 million Government boost.

Professor Konstantin Novoselov, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics last year with his colleague Professor Andre Geim, created graphene at the University in 2004.

The material is stronger than diamonds and a better conductor of electricity than copper, despite it being only an atom thick.

Now, the Government has promised to invest £50m in research into the project which Professor Novoselov insists is only just beginning.

“There are so many more things we can do”, he said. “It's scary how much work is going on.

“It hasn't been decided where or how the money will be spent, but we remain hopeful that it will be mostly invested in Manchester. It's logical, given that the expertise and facilities here are the best in the world.”

Speaking exclusively to Mancunian Matters, Professor Novoselov also declared his wish for a very practical and hands-on role in the project.

“I don't want to do too much of an administrative job. I want to be at the centre of the action. I'm sure us and [the companies] can benefit each other extremely well.”

Professor Novoselov and Professor Geim had a special visit from Chancellor George Osborne, who outlined the government's intentions at the Conservative PartyConference in Manchester earlier this month.

Professor Novoselov said: “He looked at our schedule and we talked about how we can push the project forward.

“It was great to see the amount of support being given to the cause.”

Despite work on this single project occupying all of his time, Professor Novoselov was quick to point out that, with the sheer potential of the material, his research field is, if anything, expanding.

He said: “We haven't narrowed down the research at all. This material really pushes us to study other aspects of science, and requires us to think more outside the box.

“Our next goal is to create a new application that combines all the properties of graphene.”

Graphene Factfile

• Graphene was discovered in 2004 by Professors Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov.
• They were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2010.
• Graphene is composed of carbon atoms arranged in tightly bound hexagons just one atom thick.
• Research indicates graphene as being the strongest material ever measured, 200 times stronger than structural steel.
• It is a better conductor of electricity than copper, and is also the thinnest material known to science.