Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov share the 2010 Nobel prize in physics. The Nobel committee awarded the prize to the two researchers just six years following their isolation of graphene from graphhite and the characterization of its properties in electron conduction. The discoveries of Geim and Novoselov gave rise to an avalanche of fundamental research in the area. Their work showed that a single layer of atoms of carbon packed in a honeycomb structure has a variety of fascinating properties including excellent electrical conductivity, a hundred fold greater strength than iron, excellent heat conduction and an almost complete transparency. All of these properties set the stage for multiple applications of graphene use ranging from the electronics industry to medicine.

Dr. Marko Kralj was born in 1973 in Zagreb, Croatia. He received his PhD in physics in 2003 at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science at the University of Zagreb. Following his PhD he did three years of postdoctoral training at the University of Bonn. His basic scientific interest is in the field of surface physics which includes a series of experimental techniques required for the study of surface properties and nano-structures. Since 2007 his research focus has centred on the study of graphene and graphene layers supported on metallic bases.