This annual list recognises individuals whose contributions have demonstrated broad and significant influence in their fields. The rigorous evaluation and selection process draws on data from the Web of Science and uses quantitative and qualitative analyses to identify researchers whose work has had a genuine, global impact.
Prof. Coleman and his team are internationally renowned for its achievements in the highly competitive field of two-dimensional nanomaterials. They have helped to shape the field, most notably by the major discovery of a technique called liquid phase exfoliation. The invention of this versatile method has enabled the large-scale production of defect-free graphene and a wide range of other nanosheets used both in fundamental research and in numerous real-world applications, finding an increasing number of practical applications in areas ranging from sensors and printed electronics to battery electrodes and gas-impermeable plastic beer bottles. His scholarly contribution lies in his insights into physical chemistry and his ability to formulate simple models of the exfoliation process, which has facilitated its application to many different two-dimensional materials and given new impetus to the graphene boom of the first decade of the 21st century. His clear, reliable and accessible papers published in the leading scientific journals include a series of ground-breaking contributions that continue to guide the field. These highly cited contributions citations reflect the fact that this is a hugely popular field that has benefitted from lavish support from the EU graphene flagship. The author lists testify to Coleman’s ability to assemble the best team, from Ireland and abroad, to tackle a particular problem.
Prof. Jonathan Coleman was spotlighted as one of the most highly cited researchers in today's announcement.