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Quantum dots realize their potential

Scientists have engineered semiconducting nanocrystals called quantum dots that lack toxic heavy metals and are highly efficient light emitters. These nanostructures might be used in displays, solar cells and light-emitting diodes.
  1. Alexander L. Efros

    1. Alexander L. Efros is at the Center for Computational Material Science, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC 20375, USA.

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Tiny semiconductor crystals dubbed quantum dots (QDs) are one of the biggest nanotechnology success stories so far. Since their first synthesis1,2 in the 1980s, QDs have featured in a wide range of optoelectronic devices, and QDs suspended in solution have been used in many in vivo and in vitro imaging, labelling and sensing techniques. However, two technical problems need to be resolved before their potential can be fully realized. First, QDs based on cadmium must be replaced by ones that are highly efficient light emitters and that do not contain such toxic heavy metals. And second, QD phosphors (substances that exhibit luminescence) in televisions must be replaced by QD light-emitting diodes (LEDs), to reduce power consumption. In a paper in Nature, Won et al.3 report QDs that address both issues.

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Nature 575, 604-605 (2019)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-03607-z

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