| Citation | Definitive version;
"Richard Nelmes is distinguished for his contribution to physical crystallography, opening up new avenues in the study of materials under changing pressure and temperature. He has pioneered innovations in high-pressure experimental methods that have made possible the discovery of rich structural complexity in a wide range of systems from elemental metals to planetary ices, and he has given international leadership in promoting the field of high-pressure crystallography."
Earlier version;
Richard Nelmes is distinguished for his contribution to physical crystallography, opening up new avenues in the study of materials by pioneering experiments to study the detailed structural changes produced by changing the temperature or pressure. Using both X-ray and neutron scattering techniques he has performed precise studies of the structure of potassium hydrogen phosphate and perovskite ferroelectrics to elucidate the extent to which their structural phase transitions have order?disorder character. The quest for the highest quality of data combined with the widest range of physical environments led him to develop the image plate technology for X?ray studies and to combine this with the rapidly advancing technology of high pressure cells. These developments and other improvements in the techniques have enabled him to pioneer the use of high resolution structure determination under high pressure. He has made accurate structural studies of a wide range of different systems including High Tc superconductors, semiconductors where he has discovered novel phases, and the pressure dependent phases of molecular crystals. His research expertise has been recognised by his appointment as a Senior EPSRC Research Fellow, and he is now performing experiments at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Daresbury Laboratory, and the European Synchrotron and is a frequent visitor to Japan and to the USA. |