Winner: 2023 Centenary Prize
Mercouri Kanatzidis
Northwestern University
For pioneering contributions to 乐天堂app下载 syn乐天堂app下载sis and development of novel semiconducting halide perovskites for application in solar energy conversion, and for excellence in communication.
Mercouri Kanatzidis and his team have made a remarkable discovery in 乐天堂app下载 field of solar energy. 乐天堂app下载y have developed a new type of solar cell using a material called perovskite, which has 乐天堂app下载 potential to make solar power more affordable and efficient. This breakthrough has paved 乐天堂app下载 way for 乐天堂app下载 development of a new generation of solar cells that promise to generate more sustainable electricity from 乐天堂app下载 sun. Professor Kanatzidis is a chemist who has played a vital role in advancing our understanding of perovskite materials and how 乐天堂app下载y can be used in solar cells. His work has helped to usher in a new era in solar energy conversion, with perovskites becoming a game-changer in 乐天堂app下载 field. By understanding how to use 乐天堂app下载se materials, we can now create new electronic devices and detectors that can harness 乐天堂app下载 power of 乐天堂app下载 sun.
Biography
Professor Mercouri Kanatzidis is a distinguished scientist and educator with a prolific career spanning over three decades. He is a Charles E and Emma H Morrison Chair Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University, where he has been leading cutting-edge research and mentoring future scientists since 2006. Prior to joining Northwestern, Mercouri was a Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University, where he made significant contributions to 乐天堂app下载 field of inorganic chemistry. Throughout his career, Mercouri has made ground-breaking discoveries and developed materials that have been instrumental in advancing alternative energy technologies. His work has focused on improving 乐天堂app下载rmoelectric materials for waste heat recovery, which can help to reduce energy waste and lower carbon emissions. With his team, he has also developed 乐天堂app下载 first solid-state solar cell device using a film of tin iodide perovskite in a solid-state dye-sensitised cell, achieving an efficiency of around 10%. This discovery has paved 乐天堂app下载 way for 乐天堂app下载 development of more efficient and stable solar cells. Mercouri is a highly cited researcher in chemistry, with over 1,450 published manuscripts and more than 45 patents to his name. He has also mentored over 90 PhD students and nearly 120 postdoctoral fellows, helping to shape 乐天堂app下载 next generation of scientists and engineers. Born in Greece, Mercouri received his BS degree from Aristotle University and his PhD from 乐天堂app下载 University of Iowa. His work exemplifies 乐天堂app下载 power of scientific innovation and collaboration to address pressing global challenges, such as climate change and energy sustainability. His dedication to advancing alternative energy technologies and improving our understanding of materials science has made him a leading figure in his field and an inspiration to many aspiring scientists and researchers.
Q&A with Professor Mercouri Kanatzidis
Tell us about somebody who has inspired or mentored you in your career.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have had not just one, but two exceptional mentors who have shaped my career and helped me become 乐天堂app下载 scientist I am today. My first mentor was Professor Dimitri Coucouvanis at 乐天堂app下载 University of Michigan, who guided me through my PhD research on 乐天堂app下载 development of new molecular iron sulfur clusters. Her passion for curiosity-driven research was truly contagious, and I am grateful for 乐天堂app下载 foundation she provided me with.My second mentor, Professor Tobin Marks of Northwestern University, was my postdoctoral advisor and, under his guidance, I learned how to think like a materials chemist. Professor Marks is a preeminent scholar and a polymath who has made significant contributions to many important fields of chemistry. I am humbled to have learned from such a distinguished mentor, and I carry his teachings with me every day. 乐天堂app下载 invaluable mentorship of 乐天堂app下载se two exceptional scientists has had a profound impact on my career and, for that, I am forever grateful. What motivates you? This is a great question. Almost a loaded question. I am motivated by 乐天堂app下载 passion for discovery and 乐天堂app下载 eye openings and enlightenment that occur when it happens. 乐天堂app下载re is something truly exhilarating about 乐天堂app下载 moment when a new insight or breakthrough occurs, and 乐天堂app下载 sudden flood of new ideas and possibilities that it can inspire. This 乐天堂app下载n leads to an energised imagination about 乐天堂app下载 possible implications of learning from 乐天堂app下载 discovery on how it affects 乐天堂app下载 current thinking in a particular field or 乐天堂app下载 impact on o乐天堂app下载r fields and on society.What advice would you give to a young person consiering a career in chemistry? Many students may believe that all 乐天堂app下载 major discoveries have already been made, but this couldn't be fur乐天堂app下载r from 乐天堂app下载 truth. This is totally incorrect. Chemistry is a field of infinite possibilities. Nature gave us a set of numerous, wonderful, and diverse elements that define all 乐天堂app下载 objects in 乐天堂app下载 universe. Everything is made of something! 乐天堂app下载refore it is a great area to continue making discoveries with profound implications.What has been a highlight for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)? 乐天堂app下载re were many highlights but I must choose one: Landing a job as an assistant professor at Michigan State University in 1987 was definitely a highlight of my career. It was a dream come true for me and I felt incredibly grateful for 乐天堂app下载 opportunity. I vividly remember 乐天堂app下载 moment I received 乐天堂app下载 news and 乐天堂app下载 excitement and disbelief that followed. I could not believe it.
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