Dr. Claes-Göran Granqvist is a distinguished materials physicist and Professor Emeritus of Solid State Physics at Uppsala University in Sweden. Born on December 25, 1946 in Helsingborg, Sweden, he has dedicated his career to advancing the physics of materials with applications in energy efficiency. He received his PhD in physics from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg in 1974, establishing the foundation for his pioneering work in materials science. Throughout his career, he has held positions at Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg University, and ultimately Uppsala University, where he has made significant contributions to the understanding of optical and electrical properties of materials. His leadership in the scientific community extended to serving as Chairman of the Nobel Committee for Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, a testament to his standing in the global physics community.
Dr. Granqvist is widely recognized as a pioneer in the development of energy-efficient building materials, particularly smart windows that dynamically control light transmission through electrochromic materials. His groundbreaking research spans green nanotechnology, thermochromism, and fluctuation-enhanced sensing, with significant contributions to the understanding of how nanoparticles and biomimetic materials can revolutionize energy conservation. His work on radiative cooling and photocatalytic materials has provided innovative solutions for sustainable building technologies that reduce energy consumption while maintaining occupant comfort. The practical applications of his research have led to numerous advancements in the field of energy-efficient building materials, including glass, paint, and wood treatments that have transformed how architects and engineers approach sustainable building design. His scholarly contributions include hundreds of publications that have been widely cited, establishing him as one of the foremost authorities in materials science for energy applications.
As a Fellow of SPIE (the international society for optics and photonics) and a Member of both the Royal Swedish Academy of Science and the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Dr. Granqvist has significantly shaped the direction of materials science research globally. His ongoing work continues to focus on the physics of the indoor environment, recognizing that humans spend 80 to 90 percent of their time indoors and that optimizing this environment is crucial for both energy efficiency and human well-being. Through collaborations with institutions worldwide, including his partnership with Politechnika Gdańska on air quality analysis, he has fostered international partnerships to advance sensing technologies for environmental monitoring. Even in his emeritus role, Dr. Granqvist remains actively engaged in research, mentoring younger scientists and continuing to develop novel materials that address pressing global challenges in energy sustainability. His legacy continues to inspire a new generation of materials scientists to pursue innovative solutions that bridge fundamental physics with practical applications for a more sustainable future.
