The award committee noted his crucial contribution to the research of two-dimensional nanoscale materials and the development of industrial applications in the field of lubricants and nanomaterials.
Minister of Education Yoav Kish announced today (February 1, 2026) that Prof. Reshef Tene from the Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science at the Weizmann Institute of Science is the winner of the Israel Prize in the field of chemistry and chemical engineering research for 2016. The prize committee convened under the chairmanship of Yitzhak Mastai and with the participation of members Ira Weinstock, Michael Zinigard and Irit Sagi.
According to the committee's reasoning, Tena made a significant contribution to materials research and physical and inorganic chemistry, and led a scientific revolution in the field of single-layer two-dimensional nanoscale materials for decades, in a way that strengthened Israel's position at the forefront of global research. In the same spirit, the Israel National Academy of Sciences published a congratulatory message to the Academy member on his win.
The nano revolution meets industry
One of the central axes of Tena’s work is the transition from the chemistry of layered materials to the understanding and control of inorganic nanostructures. His lab describes how, as early as 1992, he and his colleagues showed that tungsten disulfide (WS₂) nanoparticles “prefer” to close into cage structures similar to fullerenes and nanotubes – a transition that originates from the energetics of the “dangling” bonds at the edges of the particle.
This line of research has not been left on the shelf: according to the lab’s description, these developments have led to increased production and commercialization as “enhanced” solid lubricants, through companies such as NanoMaterials and NIS. It is also noted that a production infrastructure for oils and greases based on these nanoparticles has been completed, with sales exceeding 1,000 metric tons of lubricants per year.
Nanostructures, end properties and future uses
Beyond uses in lubricants, the research description indicates testing the mechanical, optical, and electrical properties of WS₂ nanotubes, including reports of superconducting behavior around 5 Kelvin (about 268 degrees Celsius below zero) in collaboration with research groups abroad, as well as demonstrations of light-emitting components.
At the same time, past Weizmann Institute of Science publications emphasized that the discoveries surrounding “fullerene-like inorganic structures” and inorganic nanotubes created a basis for broad applications: polymer reinforcement, wear-resistant components, and also potential for applications in the fields of medicine and aerospace.
Brief background and previous reviews
According to the institute's publications, Tena joined the Weizmann Institute in 1979, and during his career he won a series of awards and honors, including the A.M.T. Prize (2020) for his work in the field of nanomaterials.
According to the Hebrew Wikipedia, he was born in Kibbutz Usha, graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and previously held key positions in the Faculty of Chemistry at the Weizmann Institute.
The Israel Prize award ceremony is expected to take place on the evening of this upcoming Independence Day.
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The Minister of Education, on duty, Kish...remember Ben-Gurion's words that cultivating Jewish genius is a strategic mission in order to maintain a positive balance against our enemy and is necessary to establish our overall security perception. Therefore, the academic and research freedom of academies must not be harmed and research budgets must not be cut.