About this video

• Video Title: Sir Konstantin Novoselov at GYSS 2023 – Materials for the future
• Channel: National Research Foundation Singapore
• Speakers: Sir Konstantin Novoselov, Dr. Young Law
• Duration: 00:50:10

Overview

This video features Sir Konstantin Novoselov's presentation at GYSS 2023, focusing on the future of materials science. He discusses the properties and applications of graphene, the emergence of other 2D materials, and the shift towards custom-engineered and functional intelligent materials. The talk also touches upon the role of machine learning in materials research and the potential for future materials to possess capabilities like self-healing and programmability, drawing parallels with biological systems.

Key takeaways

• Graphene and 2D Materials: Graphene, the thinnest possible material, possesses unique electronic and physical properties due to its honeycomb lattice structure. Beyond graphene, a diverse range of other 2D materials with varying properties are now available, enabling the creation of heterostructures with tailored functionalities at the atomic level.
• Custom Engineering and Functional Materials: The field is moving from relying on existing materials to designing custom, tailored materials. The future aims for "functional intelligent materials" that can exhibit memory, learn, and adapt to external conditions, mimicking aspects of biological systems where functionality is integrated into the material itself.
• Machine Learning and Future Applications: Machine learning, particularly dynamic machine learning, is becoming crucial for understanding and designing complex, out-of-equilibrium materials. This approach aids in predicting material behavior and could lead to advanced applications like smart drug delivery, self-healing alloys, and biological fuel cells.
• Evolution of Material Science: Material science is progressing from a "top-down" approach to a "bottom-up" strategy, allowing for the programming of properties and functions at the atomic and molecular level, moving beyond simple material properties to complex functionalities.

Graphene is significant due to several unique properties, including being the thinnest possible material, highly stretchable, impermeable, and possessing exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity. Its honeycomb lattice structure leads to unusual electronic properties, such as electrons behaving like relativistic particles, allowing them to tunnel through barriers with 100% probability.

Functional intelligent materials are designed to perform specific tasks or exhibit certain behaviors autonomously, often possessing memory and the ability to learn or adapt based on external conditions. This contrasts with traditional materials, where functionality is typically achieved by assembling them into a system. In functional intelligent materials, capabilities like sensing, actuation, and analysis are integrated directly into the material itself, allowing it to respond and change its properties without external control.