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Rhodia - Pierre Gilles de Gennes Prize 2008

Rhodia R&D PGG award - Sir Richard Friend

In 2008, 18 candidates from themostfamous universities in the world, nominated by internationally renowned scientists competed for the first ever Rhodia - Pierre Gilles de Gennes Prize for Science and Industry.

The Rhodia- Pierre Gilles de Gennes Prize 2008 for Science and Industrywas awarded to Professor Sir Richard Friend for his discoveries in electroluminescenceand charges injection intosemiconducting polymers.

The work carried out by Sir Richard Friend established the existence of semi-conducting and luminescence effects in conjugated polymers. Sir Richard also developed real applications for these phenomena up to and including production and marketing within product development structures that he himself had helped to create.

This led to the development of organic and polymer systems that provide potential realistic alternatives to the systems conventionally used in electronic applications based on crystals, silicon or inorganic materials. It will be possible to use these systems as basic transistor components in electronic circuits, in light emitting diodes for lighting and display purposes and photovoltaic applications for plastic solar panels.

Consequently, Sir Richard Friend has become one of the pioneers in the development of plastic electronics for the creation of flexible electronic screens, a technology that has already been exploited in telephones and wrist-watches.

2008 Selection Panel

  • Paul Chaikin, Chairman of the Selection Panel, member of the US National Academy of Science and professor at New York University

  • Jean Marie Lehn, winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1987

  • Claude Cohen Tannoudji, winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1997

  • Alan Heeger, winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2000

  • Masao Doi, Professor of Applied Physics, University of Tokyo (Japan)

  • Jacques Prost, Director of the ESPCI (Higher Institute for Physics and Industrial Chemistry)

  • Yves Boisdron, Industrial expert

  • Paul-Joël Derian, Vice President, Research & Development, Rhodia

  • Patrick Maestro, Scientific Director, Rhodia (secretary to the prize)

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