Tiny Particles, Big Impact: Nobel Chemistry Prize 2023 Recognises Quantum Dot Trailblazers

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2023 has been awarded to scientists Moungi G Bawendi, Louis E Brus, and Alexei I Ekimov.

These individuals have been recognised for their significant contributions to the discovery and synthesis of "quantum dots," which are special nanoparticles.

The Science, In Brief

In the realm of chemistry, the number of electrons an element possesses governs its properties. However, when matter is reduced to nano-dimensions, quantum phenomena emerge, dictated by the size of the matter.

The new chemistry laureates have successfully produced particles known as quantum dots, which are so minuscule that their properties are influenced by quantum phenomena. These quantum dots have become integral to the field of nanotechnology.

Quantum dots have found various applications in modern technology. For instance, they are used in QLED technology to enhance the illumination of computer monitors and television screens.

Additionally, quantum dots are used in LED lamps to add nuances to the light emitted.

In the field of biochemistry and medicine, these tiny particles are employed for mapping biological tissue, further highlighting their versatility.

Physicists had long been aware of the potential for size-dependent quantum effects in nanoparticles, but the technology to create nanodimensional structures was lacking at the time. As a result, many doubted that this knowledge could ever be practically applied.

However, in the early 1980s, Ekimov achieved a breakthrough by successfully producing size-dependent quantum effects in coloured glass.

By incorporating nanoparticles of copper chloride, Ekimov demonstrated that the size of the particles directly influenced the colour of the glass through quantum effects.

A few years later, Brus became the first scientist to prove the existence of size-dependent quantum effects in particles freely suspended in a fluid.

In 1993, Bawendi revolutionised the chemical production of quantum dots, resulting in the creation of nearly flawless particles. This exceptional quality was crucial for the use of quantum dots in various applications.

The potential of quantum dots extends beyond their current applications, as states the NobelPrize.org write-up making the announcement.

Researchers believe that these particles have the potential to contribute to the development of flexible electronics, miniature sensors, thinner solar cells, and encrypted quantum communication.

This is only still scratching the surface of quantum dots' immense possibilities.

The New Chemistry Laureates

Bawendi, who was born in Paris, France, in 1961, obtained his PhD in 1988 from the University of Chicago in Illinois, the United States of America (USA).

He currently serves as a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

Brus was born in 1943 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He obtained his PhD in 1969 from Columbia University in New York, USA, and currently serves as a professor at Columbia University.

Ekimov was born in 1945 in the former USSR. He completed his PhD in 1974 from Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Previously, he held the position of Chief Scientist at Nanocrystals Technology Inc in New York, USA.

The prize amount for the laureates is 11 million Swedish kronor, which will be shared equally among them.