Stockholm, Sweden. Three esteemed scientists in the United States have been awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for their groundbreaking contributions to the field of quantum dots—minute particles, just a few atoms in diameter, capable of emitting exceptionally bright and colorful light. These quantum dots find widespread applications in electronics and medical imaging, enriching everyday life with their unique properties.
Moungi Bawendi, affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); Louis Brus, associated with Columbia University; and Alexei Ekimov, representing Nanocrystals Technology Inc., have been recognized for their pioneering work with these minuscule particles that have made remarkable contributions to television screens, LED lamps, medical imaging, and more. The announcement was made by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm.
Pernilla Witting Stafshede, a member of the Nobel committee responsible for awarding the prize, highlighted the significance of their work: “Why does it matter, right, that we can make tiny particles that nobody can see, but they have colors? This is actually used today both in medicine and technology… We have displays on TVs, in your cellphone, that use quantum dots inside to make just brighter colors.”
The anticipation surrounding the Nobel Prize in chemistry took an unusual turn when Swedish media reported the names of the laureates several hours before the official announcement. This early revelation appears to have been caused by a premature news release.
Quantum dots are nanoscale particles that emit vibrant blue, red, or green light when illuminated or exposed to light. The specific color they emit depends on the size of the particles, with larger dots producing red light and smaller dots emitting blue light. This color-changing phenomenon is a result of the unique behavior of electrons within more or less confined spaces.
Although physicists had theorized about these color-changing properties as far back as the 1930s, the ability to create quantum dots of precisely controlled sizes was not realized in laboratories until half a century later.
Alexei Ekimov, aged 78, and Louis Brus, aged 80, were early pioneers in quantum dot technology. Moungi Bawendi, aged 62, is credited with revolutionizing the production of quantum dots, leading to the development of nearly flawless particles that were essential for practical applications.
“The community realized the implications in the mid-90s, that there could potentially be some real-world applications,” noted a spokesperson from the Nobel committee.
Judy Giordan, President of the American Chemical Society, expressed her delight at the selection of the Nobel laureates, emphasizing the importance of chemistry in creating innovative structures and solutions to address challenges that benefit both people and the planet.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
