3 Scientists Share Nobel Prize For Chemistry For Quantum Dots

The Nobel Prize for chemistry has been awarded to three scientists “for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots”, which are nanoparticles so tiny that their size determines their properties.

Announcing the award Wednesday, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus and Alexei I. Ekimov “planted an important seed for nanotechnology.”

These smallest components of nanotechnology now spread their light from televisions and LED lamps, and can also guide surgeons when they remove tumour tissue, among many other things.

The Nobel Laureates in Chemistry 2023 have succeeded in producing particles so small that their properties are determined by quantum phenomena. The particles, which are called quantum dots, are now of great importance in nanotechnology.

“Quantum dots have many fascinating and unusual properties. Importantly, they have different colours depending on their size,” said Johan Åqvist, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.

In the early 1980s, Alexei Ekimov succeeded in creating size-dependent quantum effects in coloured glass. The colour came from nanoparticles of copper chloride and Ekimov demonstrated that the particle size affected the colour of the glass via quantum effects.

A few years later, Louis Brus was the first scientist in the world to prove size-dependent quantum effects in particles floating freely in a fluid.

In 1993, Moungi Bawendi revolutionised the chemical production of quantum dots, resulting in almost perfect particles. This high quality was necessary for them to be utilised in applications.

Quantum dots now illuminate computer monitors and television screens based on QLED technology. Biochemists and doctors use them to map biological tissue.

Researchers believe that in the future Quantum dots could contribute to flexible electronics, tiny sensors, thinner solar cells and encrypted quantum communication – paving the way for exploring the potential of these tiny particles.

French-born chemist Moungi Gabriel Bawendi is currently a Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Louis Brus is the Professor of Chemistry at Columbia University.

Alexei Ekimov is a solid state physicist at Nanocrystals Technology Inc., New York.

The laureates will equally share the prize money of 11 million Swedish krona ($9,97,771).

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