CNN
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The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to a trio for their work on the discovery and development of quantum dots used in LED lights and television screens, as well as for surgeons to remove cancerous tissue.
Moungi Bawendi, Louis Brus and Alexei Ekimov won the prize, the Nobel Committee for Chemistry announced Wednesday in Stockholm.
“For a long time, no one thought you could actually make particles this small. But this year’s laureates have succeeded,” said group leader Johan Acquist.
The team explained how the scientists’ work helped create quantum dots.
In the 1980s, Ekimov developed quantum effects in colored glass. “The color came from nanoparticles of copper chloride and Ekimov demonstrated that particle size affected the color of the glass through quantum effects,” the team said.
A few years later, Bruce became the first scientist to demonstrate size-dependent quantum effects on particles floating freely in a liquid.
In 1993, Baventi revolutionized the chemical production of quantum dots, resulting in what the team called “almost perfect particles.” This allowed development points to be used in applications.
Baventi, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Bruce, an emeritus professor at Columbia University, are Americans. Ekimov is Russian and works for Nanocrystals Technology Inc.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Columbia University/Nextod
The prize was won by Moungi Bavendi, Louis Brus and Alexei Ekimov.
The team inadvertently released their names hours before the official announcement.
Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet published a copy of the email from the academy, Reuters reported.
Acquist told Reuters: “This is the fault of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Our meeting starts at 0930 CET (0730 GMT), so no decisions have been made yet.
