Three get Chemistry Nobel for work on tiny quantum dots
05 Oct 2023 11:24:52
STOCKHOLM,
THREE scientists won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on quantum dots — tiny particles that can release very bright coloured light and are used in electronics and medical imaging. Moungi Bawendi, of MIT; Louis Brus, of Columbia University, and Alexei Ekimov, of Nanocrystals Technology Inc., were honoured for their work with the particles, just a few atoms in diameter, and that “have unique properties and now spread their light from television screens and LED lamps,” according to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which announced the award in Stockholm. “They catalyze chemical reactions and their clear light can illuminate tumour tissue for a surgeon,” the academy said.
Quantum dots’ electrons have constrained movement, and this affects how they absorb and release visible light, allowing for very bright colours. In a highly unusual leak, Swedish media reported the names of the winners before the prize was announced. “There was a press release sent out for still unknown reasons. We have been very active this morning to find out exactly what happened,” Hans Ellegren, the Secretary-General of the academy, told the news conference where the award was announced. “This is very unfortunate, we do regret what happened.”
Ekimov, 78, and Brus, 80, are early pioneers of the technology, while Bawendi, 62, is credited with revolutionising the production of quantum dots “resulting in almost perfect particles. This high quality was necessary for them to be utilized in applications,” the academy said. Bawendi told the news conference that he was “very surprised, sleepy, shocked, unexpected and very honoured.” “The community realised the implications in the mid 90s, that there could potentially be some real world applications,” Bawendi said. Asked about the leak, he said he didn’t know about the prize until he was called by the academy. The chemistry prize means Nobel season has reached its halfway stage. The prizes in literature, peace and economics follow, with one announcement every weekday until October 9.