David Britz facts for kids
David Alexander Britz (born November 23, 1980) is an American scientist and engineer. He is well-known for his important work in materials science and nanotechnology. These fields deal with incredibly tiny materials and how to use them.
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World Record for Smallest Test Tube
In 2004, David Britz and his team at Oxford University and the University of Nottingham achieved something amazing. They earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. They created the world's smallest test tube.
How Small Was It?
They performed chemical reactions inside tiny tubes called carbon nanotubes. Imagine a tube so small that its inside is only about 1.2 nanometers wide. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter! The tube was about 2 micrometers long. Its total volume was just two zeptolitres. A zeptolitre is an incredibly tiny amount, 10−21 litres. About 2,000 molecules could react in that tiny space.
Education and Early Career
David Britz studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science. He graduated with high honors.
Doctoral Studies at Oxford
He then moved to the UK to study at the University of Oxford, specifically at Christ Church, Oxford college. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Materials Science from the Department of Materials. His doctoral research, finished in 2005, was about the "Structure and Bonding of Fullerenes and Nanotubes." During his time at Oxford, David Britz created more than ten new materials and processes using carbon nanotubes and fullerenes. He also received an Honorable Mention for the 2002 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
Work in Nanotechnology
After his studies, Britz worked for a nanotechnology company called Eikos. This company was in Franklin, Massachusetts.
Developing New Materials
At Eikos, he helped develop special inks made from carbon nanotubes. These inks were used to create very conductive and transparent coatings and circuits. These new materials have many uses. For example, they can be used in solar cells, in commercial display screens, and even for military purposes. David Britz currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts.
Other Achievements
Beyond his scientific work, David Britz also has other interests.
University Boxing
In 2005, he competed for Oxford University in the Varsity Boxing Match against Cambridge University. He earned a "Full Blue," which is a special award for top athletes at Oxford.
3M Strategic Business Development
David Britz also took part in the 3M Strategic Business Development Summer Olympics in 2012.
