Robert Curl
Robert Curl | |
---|---|
Robert Floyd Curl Jr. | |
fullerenes | |
Awards | Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996. Cross-cultural ambassador at Sorbonne University UNESCO Club |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Chemistry |
Institutions | Rice University, Harvard University |
Thesis | Some spectroscopic and thermodynamic properties of molecules (1957) |
Doctoral advisor | Kenneth Pitzer |
Doctoral students | Lihong V. Wang James L. Kinsey |
Robert Floyd Curl Jr. (August 23, 1933 – July 3, 2022) was an American chemist who was Pitzer–Schlumberger Professor of Natural Sciences and professor of chemistry at
Early life and education
Born in
Curl received a
Scientific career
Curl was a postdoctoral fellow at
Nobel Prize
Curl's research at Rice involved the fields of infrared and microwave spectroscopy.[4] Curl's research inspired Richard Smalley to come to Rice in 1976 with the intention of collaborating with Curl.[9] In 1985, Curl was contacted by Harold Kroto, who wanted to use a laser beam apparatus built by Smalley to simulate and study the formation of carbon chains in red giant stars. Smalley and Curl had previously used this apparatus to study semiconductors such as silicon and germanium.[4] They were initially reluctant to interrupt their experiments on these semiconductor materials to use their apparatus for Kroto's experiments on carbon, but eventually gave in.[9]
They indeed found the long carbon chains they were looking for, but also found an unexpected product that had 60 carbon atoms.
After winning the Nobel Prize in 1996, Curl took a quieter path than Smalley, who became an outspoken advocate of nanotechnology, and Kroto, who used his fame to further his interest in science education, saying, "After winning a Nobel, you can either become a scientific pontificator, or you can have some idea for a new science project and you can use your newfound notoriety to get the resources to do it. Or you can say, 'Well, I enjoy what I was doing, and I want to keep doing that.'"[6] True to that humility, when asked by the President of Rice what he would like, following the Nobel announcement, he asked that a bike rack be installed closer to his office and laboratory.[19]
Later research
Curl's later research interests involved
Curl retired in 2008 at the age of 74,
Personal life
Curl married Jonel Whipple in 1955, with whom he had two children. He cycled to his office and lab and every week played bridge with the Rice Bridge Brigade. Curl died in Houston on July 3, 2022, at the age of 88.[22][23][24][25][19]
Awards and honors
- Clayton Prize, Institute of Mechanical Engineers, 1957[26][27]
- Alexander von Humboldt Senior US Scientist Award, University of Bonn, Germany, 1984[26][27]
- Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, 1997[28]
- Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement, 1997[29]
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1998[30][31]
- International Prize for New Materials, American Physical Society, 1992[26]
- Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, 1996[12]
- Johannes Marcus Marci Award in Spectroscopy, 1998[30]
- Centenary Medal, Royal Society of Chemistry, 1999[26]
- Honorary Fellow, The Royal Society of New Zealand, 2001[26][30]
- University of Bochum Research Prize, 2004[26]
- National Historic Chemical Landmark, American Chemical Society, 2010[18]
- Citation for Chemical Breakthrough Award, Division of History of Chemistry, American Chemical Society, 2015[16][17]
- Fellow of the Optical Society of America[26][30]
Selected publications
Journal articles:
- Curl, Robert (1997). "Dawn of the fullerenes: experiment and conjecture". .
Technical reports:
- Curl, R. F. and G. P. Glass. "Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy and Chemical Kinetics of Free Radicals. Final Performance Report, August 1, 1985 – July 31, 1994," National Accelerator Laboratory, Rice University, United States Department of Energy, (June 1995).
- Curl, R. F. and G. P. Glass. "Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy and Chemical Kinetics of Free Radicals, Final Technical Report," Rice University, United States Department of Energy, (November 2004).
References
- ^ a b "Robert F. Curl". Department of Chemistry, Rice University. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
- ^ a b c Robert F. Curl, Jr
- ISBN 9780816054992. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-0787617523.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Robert F. Curl Jr. – Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB. 1996. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ a b c d Berger, Eric (June 29, 2008). "Legendary Rice professor Robert Curl retiring". Chron. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ "TJHS Alumni: Dr. Robert Floyd Curl Jr. '50". Thomas Jefferson High School Alumni Association. August 5, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ a b "Robert F. Curl: University Professor Emeritus, Pitzer-Schlumberger Professor of Natural Sciences Emeritus, Professor of Chemistry Emeritus". Rice University Department of Chemistry. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Richard E. Smalley, Robert F. Curl, Jr., and Harold W. Kroto". Science History Institute. June 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- PMID 20704028.
- ^ .
- ^ a b "Robert F. Curl Jr. – Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
- S2CID 4314237.
- .
- .
- ^ a b "2015 Awardees". American Chemical Society, Division of the History of Chemistry. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Chemical Sciences. 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
- ^ a b "Citation for Chemical Breakthrough Award" (PDF). American Chemical Society, Division of the History of Chemistry. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Chemical Sciences. 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
- ^ a b "Discovery of Fullerenes National Historic Chemical Landmark". American Chemical Society. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ a b Robert F. Curl (1933–2022), Nature, 17 Aug 2022
- ^ "Robert F. Curl Jr.". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
- ^ "Robert Curl". Rice University Baker Institute for Public Policy. June 28, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ Jade Boyd (July 4, 2022). "Nobel laureate, beloved Rice professor Robert Curl dead at 88". Rice University. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
- ^ Durrani, Jamie (July 5, 2022). "Chemistry Nobel laureate Robert Curl dies at 88". Chemistry World. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ Murphy, Brian (July 6, 2022). "Robert Curl, Nobel-winning chemist in 'buckyball' discovery, dies at 88". Washington Post. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ Chang, Kenneth (July 20, 2022). "Robert F. Curl Jr., Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Guide to the Rice University Nobel Prize records, 1978–2006, bulk 1996 UA 123". Rice University. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-1860941511. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ Unrau, Lia (May 5, 1997). "Rice University Professor Curl Elected to National Academy of Sciences". Rice University News and Media. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
- American Academy of Achievement.
- ^ a b c d "Prof. Dr. Robert Floyd Curl". Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
- ^ "American Academy of Arts & Sciences". Rice University. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
External links
- Robert Curl on Nobelprize.org
- Finding aid to the Guide to the Robert F. Curl Academic papers, 1981–2008, bulk 1985–1993 MS 483, Rice University
- Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology
- Career retrospective interviews Discovery, history, and lucky accidents in chemistry and What is it like to be a scientist?, AcademicInfluence.com, November/December 2020