Louis E. Brus (1943–2026): A consummate physical chemist and a pioneer in the exploration of spectroscopy of materials at the nanoscale

Abstract

Last year we lost a true pioneer in the field of nanoscience. Louis E. Brus didn’t chase fame, he chased “the problem.” His career is a monument to the power of curiosity driven science, the kind of impactful science nurtured by Bell Laboratories in the 1980s and 1990s. Collaborative to his core, Louis is as good an example of a “Bell Labs type” as you can find. His intellect, mentorship, and kindness will be greatly missed by his friends, students, and colleagues.