Zhores Alferov

Nobel-winning physicist whose semiconductor research enabled modern optoelectronics

Zhores Ivanovich Alferov (1930-2019) made semiconductor breakthroughs enabling fiber optics, LED lighting, and solar power systems. His heterostructure research solved critical electron movement challenges through:

• Multi-layer semiconductor designs
• Precision crystal growth techniques
• Quantum well implementations

Alferov's 1963 double heterostructure laser became the backbone of:

As vice-president of the Russian Academy of Sciences, he bridged Soviet-era science with global innovation. The 2000 Nobel Prize recognized how his work enabled $500B+ optoelectronics industry. Recent studies show Alferov-type heterostructures increase solar cell efficiency by 42% compared to traditional designs.