Moungi Bawendi, professor of chemistry at MIT and a leader in the development of tiny particles known as quantum dots received a call and was told he had won a Nobel Prize in chemistry. Researchers were able to synthesize tiny particles that emit exceptionally pure light. The Noble Foundation stated that Bawendi’s work “revolutionized the chemical production of quantum dots, resulting in almost perfect particles”. According to news.mit.edu quantum dots consist of tiny particles of semiconductor material that their properties differ from those of bulk material meaning they would behave differently than bigger materials.

When illuminated with ultraviolet light the dots fluoresce brightly in a range of colors determined by the sizes of the particles. Bawendi devised ways to control the efficiency of the dots’ light emission and to eliminate their tendency to blink on and off, making them more practical for applications in many fields. News.mit.edu stated that These tiny particles are now used in many types of biomedical imaging, as well as computer and television displays, and they also hold potential in fields such as photo-catalysis and quantum computing.

Scientists are exploring the possibility of using quantum dots to improve the performance of many other technologies such as solar cells, flexible electronics, and photo-catalysts. Bawendi’s lab has also developed spectrometers based on quantum dots, which are small enough to fit inside a smartphone camera. News.mit.edu wrote that Such devices could be used to diagnose diseases, especially skin conditions, or to detect environmental pollutants. The future of quantum dots will certainly improve many people’s lives not just because of the quality of their screens but also because of its ability to make many technological advances.