Richard Errett Smalley was a distinguished American chemist whose pioneering work transformed our understanding of carbon structures and launched the field of nanotechnology. Born in Akron, Ohio in 1943, he received his PhD from Princeton University in 1973 after completing doctoral research on the electronic states of aromatic molecules under Elliot R. Bernstein. He joined Rice University in 1976 as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry, where he would spend his entire academic career, eventually holding joint appointments in Chemistry, Physics, and Astronomy. Smalley established the Rice Quantum Institute in 1979 and was named the Gene and Norman Hackerman Chair in Chemistry in 1982, demonstrating his rapid rise to prominence within the academic community. He later founded the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology at Rice in 1993, creating an institutional foundation for interdisciplinary research.
Smalley's most groundbreaking contribution came in 1985 when, collaborating with Robert Curl and Harold Kroto, he discovered buckminsterfullerene (C60), a novel spherical form of carbon that resembles a geodesic dome and earned its name from architect Buckminster Fuller. This discovery of the third allotropic form of carbon, commonly known as buckyballs, fundamentally altered materials science and earned the trio the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996. His innovative work with supersonic beam laser spectroscopy, which he pioneered during postdoctoral research at the University of Chicago, provided the technical foundation that enabled this revolutionary discovery. Smalley's insights into carbon nanostructures revealed extraordinary properties including exceptional strength and electrical conductivity, paving the way for carbon nanotubes and establishing the scientific basis for nanotechnology with profound implications across multiple disciplines. His research bridged the gap between molecular chemistry and solid-state physics, creating an entirely new field of scientific inquiry.
Throughout his career, Smalley passionately advocated for nanotechnology as a solution to humanity's most pressing challenges, particularly in energy and environmental sustainability, famously testifying before the U.S. House of Representatives in 1999 about the transformative potential of nanoscale structures. He strongly believed that nanotechnology held the promise to revolutionize industries and solve critical problems including the need for clean energy and clean water. Even while battling lymphatic cancer and later leukemia, diagnosed in 1999, Smalley continued his scientific work and advocacy until his death in 2005, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire researchers worldwide. His vision of nanotechnology as a unifying scientific discipline capable of addressing global challenges remains a driving force in contemporary materials science research and development, cementing his status as one of the most influential scientists of the late twentieth century.
