World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Richard E. Smalley

Richard E. Smalley

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Best Scientists
2025
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Materials Science
USA
2022

D-Index & Metrics

Best Scientists

D-Index
178
Citations
168950
World Ranking
638
National Ranking
398

Materials Science

D-Index
174
Citations
169201
World Ranking
70
National Ranking
31

Chemistry

D-Index
174
Citations
166167
World Ranking
51
National Ranking
28

Richard E. Smalley publication distribution in Chemistry in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Chemistry in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Richard E. Smalley sits on this spectrum.

61–80 publications: 66 scientists 81–100 publications: 302 scientists 101–120 publications: 623 scientists 121–140 publications: 918 scientists 141–160 publications: 1,218 scientists 161–180 publications: 1,350 scientists 181–200 publications: 1,344 scientists 201–220 publications: 1,281 scientists 221–240 publications: 1,216 scientists 241–260 publications: 1,100 scientists 261–280 publications: 979 scientists 281–300 publications: 939 scientists 301–320 publications: 764 scientists 321–340 publications: 643 scientists 341–360 publications: 628 scientists 361–380 publications: 522 scientists 381–400 publications: 459 scientists 401–420 publications: 397 scientists 421–440 publications: 327 scientists 441–460 publications: 270 scientists 461–480 publications: 265 scientists 481–500 publications: 252 scientists 501–520 publications: 201 scientists 521–540 publications: 185 scientists 541–560 publications: 148 scientists 561–580 publications: 148 scientists 581–600 publications: 132 scientists 601–620 publications: 114 scientists 621–640 publications: 104 scientists 641–660 publications: 91 scientists 661–680 publications: 92 scientists 681–700 publications: 73 scientists 701–720 publications: 57 scientists 721–740 publications: 54 scientists 741–760 publications: 67 scientists 761–780 publications: 45 scientists 781–800 publications: 46 scientists 801–820 publications: 39 scientists 821–840 publications: 32 scientists 841–860 publications: 36 scientists 861–880 publications: 29 scientists 881–900 publications: 26 scientists 901–920 publications: 24 scientists 921–940 publications: 14 scientists 941–960 publications: 23 scientists 961–980 publications: 28 scientists 981–1,000 publications: 15 scientists 1,001–1,020 publications: 29 scientists 1,021–1,040 publications: 12 scientists 1,041–1,060 publications: 19 scientists 1,061–1,080 publications: 12 scientists 1,081–1,100 publications: 6 scientists 1,101–1,120 publications: 8 scientists 1,121–1,140 publications: 12 scientists 1,141–1,160 publications: 5 scientists 1,161–1,180 publications: 6 scientists 1,181–1,200 publications: 14 scientists 1,201–1,220 publications: 7 scientists 1,221–1,240 publications: 2 scientists 1,241–1,260 publications: 6 scientists 1,261–1,280 publications: 4 scientists 1,281–1,294 publications: 6 scientists 1,295+ publications: 100 scientists
61 publications 1,295+

This scientist: 505 publications — 89th percentile

89% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 1,295 publications or more.

Richard E. Smalley D-index placement in Chemistry in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Chemistry scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Richard E. Smalley sits on this spectrum.

40–41 D-Index: 289 scientists 42–43 D-Index: 612 scientists 44–45 D-Index: 808 scientists 46–47 D-Index: 776 scientists 48–49 D-Index: 835 scientists 50–51 D-Index: 861 scientists 52–53 D-Index: 872 scientists 54–55 D-Index: 933 scientists 56–57 D-Index: 1,051 scientists 58–59 D-Index: 930 scientists 60–61 D-Index: 882 scientists 62–63 D-Index: 834 scientists 64–65 D-Index: 731 scientists 66–67 D-Index: 775 scientists 68–69 D-Index: 683 scientists 70–71 D-Index: 646 scientists 72–73 D-Index: 561 scientists 74–75 D-Index: 501 scientists 76–77 D-Index: 437 scientists 78–79 D-Index: 388 scientists 80–81 D-Index: 354 scientists 82–83 D-Index: 292 scientists 84–85 D-Index: 275 scientists 86–87 D-Index: 254 scientists 88–89 D-Index: 235 scientists 90–91 D-Index: 185 scientists 92–93 D-Index: 192 scientists 94–95 D-Index: 155 scientists 96–97 D-Index: 163 scientists 98–99 D-Index: 125 scientists 100–101 D-Index: 105 scientists 102–103 D-Index: 105 scientists 104–105 D-Index: 112 scientists 106–107 D-Index: 88 scientists 108–109 D-Index: 68 scientists 110–111 D-Index: 69 scientists 112–113 D-Index: 65 scientists 114–115 D-Index: 79 scientists 116–117 D-Index: 61 scientists 118–119 D-Index: 44 scientists 120–121 D-Index: 37 scientists 122–123 D-Index: 40 scientists 124–125 D-Index: 33 scientists 126–127 D-Index: 26 scientists 128–129 D-Index: 34 scientists 130–131 D-Index: 35 scientists 132–133 D-Index: 25 scientists 134–135 D-Index: 27 scientists 136–137 D-Index: 17 scientists 138–139 D-Index: 16 scientists 140–141 D-Index: 20 scientists 142–143 D-Index: 20 scientists 144–145 D-Index: 15 scientists 146–147 D-Index: 9 scientists 148–149 D-Index: 9 scientists 150–151 D-Index: 16 scientists 152–153 D-Index: 11 scientists 154–155 D-Index: 9 scientists 156–157 D-Index: 3 scientists 158 D-Index: 3 scientists 159+ D-Index: 98 scientists
40 D-Index 159+

This scientist: 174 D-Index — 100th percentile

100% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 159 D-Index or more.

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2025 - Research.com Best Scientists Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Materials Science in United States Leader Award
  • 2003 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 1996 - Nobel Prize for their discovery of fullerenes
  • 1993 - William H. Nichols Medal, American Chemical Society (ACS)
  • 1992 - Welch Award in Chemistry, Robert A. Welch Foundation
  • 1991 - Irving Langmuir Award, American Chemical Society (ACS)
  • 1990 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 1986 - Fellow of American Physical Society (APS) Citation For pioneering contributions to knowledge of molecular structure and dynamics through the development and application of techniques of laser spectroscopy in supersonic molecular beams and jets
  • 1978 - Fellow of Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Overview

Richard E. Smalley was affiliated with Rice University in the United States. Their research contributions spanned multiple fields including Physics and Astronomy, Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Materials Science. Within these broader fields, their work extended into subfields such as Condensed Matter Physics, Geophysics, and Materials Chemistry.

The main topics covered in their research included Rare-earth and actinide compounds, High-pressure geophysics and materials, and Nuclear Materials and Properties. These areas reflect a focus on specialized materials science and physics disciplines relevant to high-pressure environments and nuclear applications.

Among their publications, one recent paper is noted: "Temperature measurements on shocked 2-phase Ce", published in 2023 in the AIP conference proceedings. This work was co-authored with B. J. Jensen, Thomas Hartsfield, F. J. Cherne, M. T. Beason, and Charles F. Shoemaker.

  • B. J. Jensen
  • Thomas Hartsfield
  • F. J. Cherne
  • M. T. Beason
  • Charles F. Shoemaker

The AIP conference proceedings also stand out as a frequent venue for their publications.

Throughout their career, Richard E. Smalley received several notable awards, including the 1996 Nobel Prize for the discovery of fullerenes. Other recognitions include:

  • Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 2003
  • William H. Nichols Medal from the American Chemical Society (ACS) in 1993
  • Welch Award in Chemistry from the Robert A. Welch Foundation in 1992
  • Irving Langmuir Award from the American Chemical Society (ACS) in 1991
  • Member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1990
  • Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) in 1986, recognized for pioneering contributions in molecular structure and dynamics via laser spectroscopy in supersonic molecular beams and jets
  • Fellow of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in 1978

Richard E. Smalley's career was marked by interdisciplinary research intersecting materials chemistry, geophysics, and condensed matter physics. Their collaborations and publication venues indicate engagement within specialized scientific communities focused on physical and materials sciences.

Best Publications

  • C 60 : Buckminsterfullerene

    H. W. Kroto;H. W. Kroto;J. R. Heath;S. C. O’Brien;R. F. Curl

  • Crystalline Ropes of Metallic Carbon Nanotubes

    Andreas Thess;Roland Lee;Pavel Nikolaev;Hongjie Dai

  • Band gap fluorescence from individual single-walled carbon nanotubes.

    Michael J. O'Connell;Sergei M. Bachilo;Chad B. Huffman;Valerie C. Moore

  • Electronic structure of atomically resolved carbon nanotubes

    Jeroen W. G. Wilder;Liesbeth C. Venema;Andrew G. Rinzler;Richard E. Smalley

  • Individual single-wall carbon nanotubes as quantum wires

    Sander J. Tans;Michel H. Devoret;Hongjie Dai;Andreas Thess

  • Structure-Assigned Optical Spectra of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

    Sergei M. Bachilo;Michael S. Strano;Carter Kittrell;Robert H. Hauge

  • Nanotubes as nanoprobes in scanning probe microscopy

    Hongjie Dai;Jason H. Hafner;Andrew G. Rinzler;Daniel T. Colbert

  • Catalytic growth of single-walled manotubes by laser vaporization

    T. Guo;P. Nikolaev;A. Thess;D.T. Colbert

  • Diameter-Selective Raman Scattering from Vibrational Modes in Carbon Nanotubes

    Apparao M. Rao;E. Richter;Shunji Bandow;Bruce Chase

  • Gas-phase catalytic growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes from carbon monoxide

    Pavel Nikolaev;Michael J Bronikowski;R.Kelley Bradley;Frank Rohmund

  • Reversible water-solubilization of single-walled carbon nanotubes by polymer wrapping

    Michael J. O'Connell;Peter Boul;Lars M. Ericson;Chad Huffman

  • Unraveling Nanotubes: Field Emission from an Atomic Wire

    A. G. Rinzler;J. H. Hafner;P. Nikolaev;P. Nordlander

  • Method for producing self-assembled objects comprising fullerene nanotubes and compositions thereof

    Richard E. Smalley;Daniel T. Colbert;Hongjie Dai;Jie Liu

  • Individually suspended single-walled carbon nanotubes in various surfactants

    Valerie C. Moore;Michael S. Strano;Erik H. Haroz;Robert H. Hauge

  • Luttinger-liquid behaviour in carbon nanotubes

    Marc Bockrath;David H. Cobden;Jia Lu;Andrew G. Rinzler

  • Large-scale purification of single-wall carbon nanotubes: process, product, and characterization

    A.G. Rinzler;J. Liu;H. Dai;P. Nikolaev

  • Functionalization of carbon nanotubes by electrochemical reduction of aryl diazonium salts: a bucky paper electrode

    Jeffrey L. Bahr;Jiping Yang;Dmitry V. Kosynkin;Michael J. Bronikowski

  • Single-Electron Transport in Ropes of Carbon Nanotubes

    Marc Bockrath;David H. Cobden;Paul L. McEuen;Nasreen G. Chopra

  • SINGLE-WALL NANOTUBES PRODUCED BY METAL-CATALYZED DISPROPORTIONATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE

    Hongjie Dai;Andrew G. Rinzler;Pasha Nikolaev;Andreas Thess

  • Electronic structure control of single-walled carbon nanotube functionalization.

    Michael S. Strano;Christopher A. Dyke;Monica L. Usrey;Paul W. Barone

Frequent Co-Authors

Robert H. Hauge
Robert H. Hauge Rice University
Andrew G. Rinzler
Andrew G. Rinzler University of Florida
Jason H. Hafner
Jason H. Hafner Rice University
J. H. Weaver
J. H. Weaver University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Jie Liu
Jie Liu Duke University
Hongjie Dai
Hongjie Dai University of Hong Kong
Robert F. Curl
Robert F. Curl Rice University
Carter Kittrell
Carter Kittrell Rice University
Matteo Pasquali
Matteo Pasquali Rice University

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Best Scientists Citing Richard E. Smalley