Dan Shechtman
Discovered quasicrystals, overturning long-held crystallographic assumptions.
National Bureau of Standards, opening the new field of quasiperiodic crystals, or quasicrystals. For this discovery, he was awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, making him one of six Israelis who have won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
- field
- Chemistry, Materials Science
- nationality
- Israeli
- known_for
- Discovery of quasicrystals (icosahedral phase)
Lore & Background
He earned his B.Sc. National Bureau of Standards, Shechtman discovered the icosahedral phase, a structure that is ordered but not periodic—a quasicrystal. This discovery was met with intense hostility, particularly from two-time Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling, who famously said, 'There is no such thing as quasicrystals, only quasi-scientists.' Shechtman's research group head told him to 'go back and read the textbook' and later asked him to leave for 'bringing disgrace' on the team. He later said, 'For a long time it was me against the world.'
Shechtman married Prof. Tzipora Shechtman, and they have a son and three daughters.
Reader's Guide
Dan Shechtman's discovery of quasicrystals fundamentally changed the understanding of solid matter. His finding of a structure with long-range order but no translational symmetry was initially met with fierce opposition, especially from Linus Pauling, a towering figure in chemistry. Shechtman's persistence in the face of ridicule exemplifies the scientific process, and his Nobel Prize recognized a paradigm shift in crystallography.
Did You Know?
- Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel Laureate, opposed Shechtman's findings, saying 'There is no such thing as quasicrystals, only quasi-scientists.'
- Shechtman's childhood dream was to become an engineer like the protagonist Cyrus Smith in Jules Verne's The Mysterious Island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was Dan Shechtman when he made his breakthrough?
He was on sabbatical at the U.S. National Bureau of Standards when the discovery took place. His home institution at the time was the Technion in Israel.
Why is Dan Shechtman important to chemistry?
His identification of the icosahedral phase shattered the long-standing assumption that crystalline solids could only exhibit certain symmetries. By opening the door to quasicrystals, he fundamentally broadened what scientists understood about atomic ordering in solids.
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