ISSN 1023-1935, Russian Journal of Electrochemistry, 2007, Vol. 43, No. 12, pp. 1423–1424. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2007.Original Russian Text © B.M. Grafov, A.M. Kuznetsov, Yu.V. Pleskov, 2007, published in Elektrokhimiya, 2007, Vol. 43, No. 12, pp. 1504–1505.

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Doctor of Chemistry, Professor Lev IsaevichKrishtalik is 80 on November 23, 2007.

L.I. Krishtalik is a first-rate expert in physicalchemistry and electrochemistry. His great erudition,encyclopedic knowledge, and deepest insight into thebasis of physico-chemical science brought him well-earned prestige with his colleagues. His outstandingworks in electrochemical kinetics are world-famed andgenerally recognized, which found its manifestation inthe awarding of the Frumkin Memorial Medal of theInternational Society of Electrochemistry (2002). Asthe grounds of the rewarding, it is stated that “it isawarded to Lev I. Krishtalik in recognition of his out-standing pioneering contributions particularly in thefield of the elementary act of electrode reactions, andfor his exceptional ability to bridge the gap betweenexperimentalists and theoreticians, while authorita-tively contributing to both areas of electrochemistry,thus expressing in his work the best features ofFrumkin’s school.”

L.I. Krishtalik predicted and experimentally con-firmed the existence of a new class of electrode reac-tions, namely, barrierless electrode processes forwhich the activation energy equals the energy of theirelementary act. Basing on the obtained regularities, in

particular, pertinent to the barrierless discharge, heexperimentally proved and corroborated the quantum-mechanical theory of proton transfer (the combinationof medium reorganization and proton tunneling).

He found a new type of electrode process: the elec-tron thermoemission from metal to solution, with sub-sequent formation of localized solvated electron.

L.I. Krishtalik substantiated a new method for thevalidation of continual electrostatics in the describingof ion solvation.

It was but logical evolution of this research that theconception of quantum-mechanical theory wasextended to enzymatic reactions. Specificity of pro-teins as polar media was thus revealed.

The configurational free energy was applied to theanalyzing of energetics of elementary stages of intri-cate reactions; in particular, the existence of two-elec-tron stage in the photosynthetic oxygen evolution wasdemonstrated by using this new method.

In addition to the above-formulated achievements,L.I. Krishtalik obtained numerous significant results inother fields of electrochemical science and engineer-ing: he studied production of chlorine and alkali in dia-phragm and membrane electrolyzers, chlorine and

Lev Isaevich Krishtalik(On the occasion of his eightieth anniversary)

DOI:

10.1134/S1023193507120142

CHRONICLE

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LEV ISAEVICH KRISHTALIK

oxygen evolution at graphite and metal-oxide elec-trodes, including the anode consumption, etc.

Issued from L.I. Krishtalik’s pen are two mono-graphs, over 300 papers, and 18 author’s certificates.According to www.scientific.ru, L.I. Krishtalik is oneof the most often cited Russian authors (2257 refer-ences over a period from 1986 to 2005). For manyyears he is member of the Advisory Board of the ELE-KTROKHIMIYA/The Russian Journal of Electro-chemistry.

L.I. Krishtalik shares his leisure among reading, lis-tening to his favorite classical music, and friendly talks.

Being a man of principle, L.I. Krishtalik at the sametime demonstrates breadth of views; a man of great sci-

entific erudition, he combines charm with his encyclo-pedic knowledge in a variety of topics; all this makeshim extremely attractive for persons of different gener-ations.

The Advisory Board of ELEKTROKHIMIYA, col-leagues, collaborators, and friends send to Lev IsaevichKrishtalik their greetings and wishes of sound health,good fortune, and every success.

B. M. Grafov,A. M. Kuznetsov,

and Yu. V. Pleskov