The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 rewards the discovery and development ofย quantum dots, nanoparticles so tiny that their size determines their properties. 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.
Everyone who studies chemistry learns that an elementโs properties are governed by how many electrons it has. However, when matter shrinks to nano-dimensionsย quantum phenomenaย arise; these are governed by the size of the matter. 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.
โQuantum dots have many fascinating and unusual properties. Importantly, they have different colours depending on their size,โ says Johan ร qvist, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.
Physicists had long known that in theory, size-dependent quantum effects could arise in nanoparticles, but at that time it was almost impossible to sculpt in nano dimensions. Therefore, few people believed that this knowledge would be put to practical use.
However, in the early 1980s,ย 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,ย Louis Brusย was the first scientist in the world to prove size-dependent quantum effects in particles floating freely in a fluid.
In 1993,ย Moungi Bawendiย 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. They also add nuance to the light of some LED lamps, and biochemists and doctors use them to map biological tissue. Quantum dots are thus bringing the greatest benefit to humankind. Researchers believe that in the future they could contribute to flexible electronics, tiny sensors, thinner solar cells and encrypted quantum communication โ so we have just started exploring the potential of these tiny particles.
The prize amount of ย 11 million Swedish kronor is to be shared equally between the Laureates.
About the Nobel laureates
Moungi G. Bawendi was born in 1961 in Paris, France. He obtained PhD in 1988 from the University of Chicago, IL, USA. He is currently a Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA.
Louis E. Brus was born in 1943 in Cleveland, OH, USA. He obtained PhD 1969 from Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. He is currently a Professor at Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Alexei I. Ekimov was born in 1945 in the former USSR. He obtainedย PhD 1974 from Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Saint Petersburg, Russia. He was formerly Chief Scientist at Nanocrystals Technology Inc., New York, NY, USA.
The Nobel Prize in Physics 2023 was awarded for exploring the world of electrons inside atoms and molecules. Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne LโHuillier have demonstrated a way to create extremely short pulses of light that can be used to measure the rapid processes in which electrons move or change energy.
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