Scientists Moungi Bawendi, Louis Brus, and Alexei Ekimov received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2023 for their contributions to the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots. Quantum dots are nanoscale semiconductor particles with unique optical and electronic properties. They have a wide range of applications, including illuminating computer monitors and television screens, mapping tumors in medical imaging, and potential uses in nanotechnology.
The Nobel Committee for Chemistry emphasized that quantum dots, determined by quantum phenomena, hold significant importance in nanotechnology due to their small size. Moreover, researchers believe that quantum dots could play a role in flexible electronics, tiny sensors, thinner solar cells, and encrypted quantum communication.
Nanoparticles and quantum dots have applications in LED lights and can guide surgeons during cancer tissue removal.
Notably, Moungi Bawendi is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Louis Brus is a professor emeritus at Columbia University, and Alexei Ekimov works for Nanocrystals Technology Inc. Their work in the field of quantum dots has had a significant impact on various industries.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry is one of the prestigious awards established by the will of Alfred Nobel and is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. It is worth 11 million Swedish crowns (approximately $997,959). Moreover, the Chemistry Nobel follows those for medicine and physics, and it acknowledges outstanding contributions to the field of chemistry.
