Simple Scotch Tape Experiment Produces Nobel Prize

Two Russian scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize for discovery of a one-atom thick material called graphene that has significant potential for electronic applications, including semiconductors.  In what appeared to be just a wacky experiment at the time, they applied Scotch tape to a sheet of graphite and extracted the extremely thin, totally transparent material with excellent strength and electrical properties.

Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov will split the prize of about $1.4 million.

Hundreds of researchers are now exploring potential for the material as ultracapacitors, sensors, touchscreens, liquid crystal displays, organic photovoltaic cells, and organic light-emitting diodes.