Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023

News: Recently, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 was awarded.

Who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023?
• The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 was awarded to Moungi G.Bawendi from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Louis E. Brus from Columbia University, and Alexei I. Ekimov from Nanocrystals Technology Inc.
• They were awarded the prize for their discovery and synthesis of quantum dots.

What are Quantum Dots?
• Quantum dots are 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.
• Quantum dots have many fascinating and unusual properties. Importantly, they have different colours depending on their size.
• 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.

Role of Scientists:
• Dr Alexei I Ekimov - In the early 1980s, Dr Ekimov pioneered the creation of size-dependent quantum effects in coloured glass. He conducted research on glasses tinted with copper chloride, which, when heated and cooled under different conditions, resulted in glass with varying light-absorbing properties due to the formation of differently sized copper chloride crystals.
• Dr Louis E Brus - In 1983, Dr. Brus and his colleagues took a significant step by producing similar crystals in a liquid solution instead of glass. This innovation allowed for more precise manipulation and study of the crystals.
• Dr Moungi G Bawendi - Dr. Bawendi and his team, in 1993, developed a technique to create well-defined quantum dots with high optical quality. Their process involved injecting a substance into a heated solvent and adjusting the temperature to control the size of nanocrystals. The resulting quantum dots had a smooth exterior surface, making them suitable for a wide range of applications.