George Gray (chemist)

George William Gray (4 September 1926 – 12 May 2013) was a British chemist renowned for his pioneering work on liquid crystals. His research significantly contributed to the development of stable liquid crystal materials suitable for use in liquid crystal displays (LCDs).

Gray earned his PhD from the University of Glasgow and subsequently worked at the University of Hull for over 30 years. It was there that he conducted his groundbreaking research. His key achievement was the synthesis of stable cyanobiphenyl liquid crystals, which exhibited the necessary properties for widespread application in LCD technology, including chemical stability, a suitable temperature range, and appropriate optical characteristics.

Cyanobiphenyls quickly became the dominant materials used in the early LCD industry, revolutionizing display technology in watches, calculators, and eventually, televisions and computer monitors. Gray's work provided a critical stepping stone in the transition from bulky cathode ray tube (CRT) displays to the flat-panel displays that are ubiquitous today.

Beyond cyanobiphenyls, Gray also made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between molecular structure and liquid crystalline behavior, authoring numerous scientific publications and patents. He received widespread recognition for his contributions, including the Rank Prize for Opto-Electronics in 1987 and the Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology in 1995. His research had a profound and lasting impact on the electronics industry and modern life.