Press launch: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023

2023-10-04 04:55:15

Press launch

English
English (pdf)
Swedish
Swedish (pdf)

4 October 2023

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has determined to award the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 to

Moungi G. Bawendi
Massachusetts Institute of Know-how (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA

Louis E. Brus
Columbia College, New York, NY, USA

Alexei I. Ekimov
Nanocrystals Know-how Inc., New York, NY, USA

“for the invention and synthesis of quantum dots”

They planted an essential seed for nanotechnology

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 rewards the invention and growth of quantum dots, nanoparticles so tiny that their measurement determines their properties. These smallest elements of nanotechnology now unfold their mild from televisions and LED lamps, and can even information surgeons after they take away tumour tissue, amongst many different issues.

Everybody who research chemistry learns that a component’s properties are ruled by what number of electrons it has. Nonetheless, when matter shrinks to nano-dimensions quantum phenomena come up; these are ruled by the dimensions of the matter. The Nobel Laureates in Chemistry 2023 have succeeded in producing particles so small that their properties are decided by quantum phenomena. The particles, that are referred to as quantum dots, are actually of nice significance in nanotechnology.

“Quantum dots have many desirable and weird properties. Importantly, they’ve totally different colors relying on their measurement,” says Johan Åqvist, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.

Physicists had lengthy identified that in principle size-dependent quantum results may come up in nanoparticles, however at the moment it was nearly not possible to sculpt in nanodimensions. Due to this fact, few folks believed that this data could be put to sensible use.

Nonetheless, within the early Eighties, Alexei Ekimov succeeded in creating size-dependent quantum results in colored glass. The color got here from nanoparticles of copper chloride and Ekimov demonstrated that the particle measurement affected the color of the glass by way of quantum results.

A number of years later, Louis Brus was the primary scientist on this planet to show size-dependent quantum results in particles floating freely in a fluid.

In 1993, Moungi Bawendi revolutionised the chemical manufacturing of quantum dots, leading to nearly good particles. This prime quality was needed for them to be utilised in functions.

Quantum dots now illuminate laptop displays and tv screens based mostly on QLED know-how. In addition they add nuance to the sunshine of some LED lamps, and biochemists and docs use them to map organic tissue.

Quantum dots are thus bringing the best profit to humankind. Researchers consider that sooner or later they might contribute to versatile electronics, tiny sensors, thinner photo voltaic cells and encrypted quantum communication – so we now have simply began exploring the potential of those tiny particles.

Illustrations

The illustrations are free to make use of for non-commercial functions. Attribute ”© Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences”

Illustration: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 (pdf)
Illustration: Quantum dots (pdf)
Illustration: Quantum effects arise when particles shrink (pdf)
Illustration: How Moungi Bawendi produced quantom dots (pdf)

Learn extra about this yr’s prize

Moungi G. Bawendi, born 1961 in Paris, France. PhD 1988 from College of Chicago, IL, USA. Professor at Massachusetts Institute of
Know-how (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA.

Louis E. Brus, born 1943 in Cleveland, OH, USA. PhD 1969 from Columbia College, New York, NY, USA. Professor at Columbia College, New York, NY, USA.

Alexei I. Ekimov, born 1945 within the former USSR. PhD 1974 from Ioffe Bodily-Technical Institute, Saint Petersburg, Russia. Previously Chief Scientist at Nanocrystals Know-how Inc., New York, NY, USA.

Prize quantity: 11 million Swedish kronor, to be shared equally between the Laureates.
Additional info: www.kva.se and www.nobelprize.org
Press contact: Eva Nevelius, Press Secretary, +46 70 878 67 63, [email protected]
Knowledgeable: Heiner Linke, +46 70 414 02 45, hein[email protected], member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, based in 1739, is an unbiased organisation whose total goal is to advertise the sciences and strengthen their affect in society. The Academy takes particular duty for the pure sciences and arithmetic, however endeavours to advertise the change of concepts between varied disciplines.

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