Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Sir Harry Kroto’s Nobel Prize
The year 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the late Professor Sir Harry Kroto FRS achieving the pinnacle of scientific achievement; securing a Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Sir Harry, along with colleagues at Rice University in the USA, conducted ground-breaking research that revolutionised chemistry and opened up a world of new opportunities for various industries; from nanotechnology and energy production to medicine.
A keen advocate of science outreach, Sir Harry is also remembered for inspiring children and adults alike with his engaging talks and practical workshops.
To honour his achievements, the Royal Society of Chemistry has awarded a blue plaque to commemorate Sir Harry’s achievements at Sussex, which will be unveiled at a special event on the University of Sussex campus on 17 June 2022. You can now book your place on Eventbrite.
Keep reading to discover more about Sir Harry Kroto’s revolutionary research, his legacy and the commemoration event in 2022.
Ground-breaking carbon chemistry
While working at the University of Sussex in 1985, Sir Harry Kroto teamed up with collaborators at Rice University, USA, to investigate carbon chains.
Sir Harry was an expert in the emerging field of microwave spectroscopy which he used to study molecules in the laboratory and to detect them in the vast molecular clouds found between the stars in interstellar space.
Together with Robert Curl and Richard Smalley, Sir Harry conducted lab experiments to simulate the chemistry of stars and interstellar space by using lasers to vaporise carbon. These experiments eventually led to a discovery which revolutionised chemistry and earned the trio of researchers the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996.
The chemists had discovered a new form of carbon.
This new form, or allotrope, was made up of 60 carbon atoms, especially remarkable given that pure carbon was previously only known to exist as diamond or graphite, not as a molecule.
Sir Harry Kroto holds a model of a Buckyball on the day in 1996 when he learned that he was to receieve the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for discovering this new form of carbon.
Sir Harry proposed the structure of this new C60 molecule was made up of a mixture of pentagons and hexagons which resemble that of a football or the ‘geodesic domes’ popularised by architect Richard Buckminster Fuller. He therefore dubbed this new form of carbon Buckminsterfullerene, and shortened this to ‘buckyball’.
Many were initially sceptical of this proposal, but together with his PhD student, Jonathan Hare, Sir Harry managed to make and purify C60 and confirm its structure.
With further studies, Kroto, the Rice team and others quickly discovered more carbon cage molecules with varying numbers of carbon atoms and different hollow structures - the family of cages were termed ‘fullerenes’. Alongside the spherical buckyball, cylindrical forms of carbon were also discovered named nanotubes or buckytubes.
The isolation and separation of C60 and C70
Pictured are the original samples of C60 and C70 which will be displayed in the School of Life Sciences.
In recognition of the 25th anniversary of the Nobel Prize which celebrated this outstanding contribution to science, Chemical Communications have made the 1990 article on the isolation and separation of C60 and C70 open access for the remainder of 2021.
The impact of a new form of carbon
This discovery not only changed our fundamental understanding of chemistry in space, it opened up a world of new opportunities for various industries.
Since 1919, astronomers have been aware of something absorbing specific frequencies of light coming from distant stars - these are known as the Diffuse Interstellar bands (DIBs). Understanding that the cage molecules will be present in space, Sir Harry theorised fullerenes may well help to solve this longstanding mystery.
It was not until 2015 that Sir Harry was proved right. John Maier’s group in Switzerland discovered buckyballs were indeed present – and abundant – in outer space. Their research suggested buckyballs can remain intact for millions of years and travel over great distances between the stars. Scientists have since theorised it may even be possible that buckyballs from outerspace are key to understanding the rise of life on Earth.
Fullerenes have also proved to have a huge variety of practical applications and their discovery is considered one of the landmarks in the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Due to the strength, stability and hollow-nature of their structures, they have been examined for their possible uses in a wide range of industries, from energy production and material science to pharmaceuticals and medicine.
For instance, buckyballs can be used to strengthen composite materials (with uses ranging from sports equipment to building materials). Their hollow structure means they could be used to store hydrogen, possibly as a fuel tank for fuel cell powered cars and as fullerenes have a high electron affinity, it is hoped they could also be used to produce a new generation of low-cost solar cells.
In medicine, they have been used in drug discovery as fullerenes resist breakdown in the body. Some researchers also believe fullerenes can act as free radical 'sponges' - like a sort of 'super vitamin C' - helping to fight aging and inflammation but it is early days for this research.
These are just a few examples, some are already in use while others are yet to be put in to practice. The uses of fullerenes are still being researched today, and will likely be for many years to come.
It is unsurprising therefore that Kroto’s 1985 discovery of the buckyball was hailed as one of the most important scientific discoveries in the past half-century that not only earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, but a knighthood as well.
For more information, watch this video of Sir Harry Kroto and his former PhD student Jonathan Hare chatting about the discovery of fullerenes and the exciting times when they were made for the first time.
Inspiring with science
Aside from his outstanding contributions to chemistry, Sir Harry is also remembered as an excellent communicator and educator who worked relentlessly to bring science to a wide range of audiences.
He ran workshops all around the world in his quest to engage children and adults with science. He encouraged members of his lab to do the same.
Some of my greatest satisfaction has come in conversations with school children, teachers, lay people and retired research workers who have often exhibited a fascination for science as a cultural activity and a deep understanding of the way nature works.” sir harry kroto
His former students, colleagues, and even celebrities such as Brian May, remember his lectures and practical workshops as being a source of inspiration. You can view their tributes to Sir Kroto on the website here.
Alongside his in-person talks, Sir Harry explored new ways to reach larger audiences. In 1994, he teamed up with BBC Education Producer Patrick Reams to set up the Vega Science Trust; a not-for-profit organisation which provided a platform from which scientists could communicate directly with the public using video and which aimed to see science more fully integrated into our everyday culture.
The videos not only reflected the excitement of scientific discovery, but also the intrinsic concepts and principles that enable fundamental understanding. The Trust produced over 300 programmes for the internet, with approximately 50 broadcast on BBC2.
The Vega Science Trust covered a wide array of research and provided online resources for schools, university and the public. While it closed in 2012, it still acts as a historical archive and you can continue to view famous scientists describing their work.
Later, Sir Harry continued to explore new ways of using the internet for educational outreach, leading to the creation of the GEOSET (Global Educational Outreach for Science, Engineering and Technology) project, which aimed to create scientific educational material freely accessible worldwide.
While the GEOSET website hosts videos of academic lectures and courses, its aim was also to encourage teachers to record their own material, providing a simple way of recording and publishing any presentation that communicates science in ways interesting to young people.
Honouring Sir Harry's contributions to research and outreach
Sir Harry’s research and passion for public engagement has been recognised worldwide. His contributions to science are taught in schools across the globe and researchers are still investigating new and exciting uses for the buckyball.
In 2010, Google celebrated the 25th anniversary of the discovery of the buckyball with an interactive Google Doodle.
In 2019, the School of Life Sciences introduced the Kroto Award for Public Engagement, which recognises Sir Harry’s legacy to outreach. This annual award celebrates researchers within the School who demonstrate their commitment to engaging with those outside of academia. The award is presented by Sir Harry’s wife, Lady Margaret Kroto, at the Life Sciences Research Symposium each year. The School of Life Sciences is now working to showcase Sir Harry’s legacy on campus by displaying his lab equipment and original C60 samples.
Dr Mahmoud Bukar Maina and Lady Margaret Kroto at the 2019 Life Sciences Research Symposium.
Blue plaque unveiling event
To honour Sir Harry's great achievements, the Royal Society of Chemistry has also awarded a chemistry landmark blue plaque which will be adorned on the Chichester building, where he often delivered his inspiring lectures.
The unveiling ceremony of the plaque is scheduled for 17 June 2022. The day will be a celebration of Sir Harry’s passion for science and for promoting science engagement.The occasion will start with an outreach event for school pupils led by his former PhD students now professional science communicators. From midday, there will be an unveiling of the plaque ceremony, followed by an afternoon of exciting research talks, ending with a drinks reception.
Please book your place (Eventbrite) for the unveiling and research talks (12.00 - 17.30).