Citation: Lingdong Sun, Yingxia Wang. Quantum Dots: Light up Nanoscience—A Brief Introduction to the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023[J]. University Chemistry, ;2024, 39(1): 1-6. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202311076 shu

Quantum Dots: Light up Nanoscience—A Brief Introduction to the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023

Lingdong Sun ^, ,
Yingxia Wang ^,

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

Corresponding author: Lingdong Sun, Yingxia Wang,
Received Date: 20 November 2023

With the advancement of the field of chemistry, the synthesis of an increasingly diverse range of compounds has become feasible. The study of substances now encompasses various scales:from macroscopic to microscopic, often extending into the mesoscopic domain, typically at the nanoscale. At the nanometer scale, many materials manifest size-dependent effects, with quantum dots standing out as the most prominent representative. Quantum dots denote a class of semiconductors that exhibit size-dependent quantum effects when their dimensions closely approach the exciton Bohr radius. Through meticulous size control while preserving a consistent chemical composition, it is plausible to modulate the bandgap along with the accompanying absorption and emission spectra. This characteristic brings new opportunities for the research and application of semiconductor nanomaterials. The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to quantum dots and claimed that they light up nanoscience. Combining the three Nobel laureates' work, this article embarks upon the historical trajectory of the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots, offering a concise overview of the pertinent scientific achievements.
- Quantum size effect,
- Quantum dots,
- Nanoscience,
- Synthesis chemistry
1. [1]
  Tiny ‘Quantum Dot’ Particles Win Chemistry Nobel. Nature 2023, 622, 227.
2. [2]
  Quantum dots—Seeds of Nanoscience. [2023-11-28]. https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2023/press-release/
3. [3]
  Ekimov, A. I.; Onushchenko, A. A.; Tsekhomskii, V. Sov. Glass Phys. Chem. 1980, 6, 5.
4. [4]
  Ekimov, A. I.; Onushchenko, A. A. JETP Lett. 1981, 34, 345.
5. [5]
  Efros, A. L.; Efros, A. L. Sov. Phys. Semicond. 1982, 16 (7), 772.
6. [6]
  Rossetti, R.; Brus, L. J. Phys. Chem. 1982, 86, 4470.
7. [7]
  Rossetti, R.; Nakahara, S.; Brus, L. J. Chem. Phys. 1983, 79, 1086.
8. [8]
  Efros, A. L.; Brus, L. E. ACS Nano 2021, 15 (4), 6192.
9. [9]
  Wang, F.; Tang, R.; Buhro, W. E. Nano Lett. 2008, 8, 3521.
10. [10]
  Murray, C. B.; Norris, D. J.; Bawendi, M. G. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1993, 115, 8706.
11. [11]
  Hines, M. A.; Guyot-Sionnest, P. J. Phys.Chem. 1996, 100, 468.
12. [12]
  Heinze, D.; Breddermann, D.; Zrenner, A.; Schumacher, S. Nat. Commun. 2015, 6, 8473.
13. [13]
  Nirmal, N.; Dabbousi, B. O.; Bawendi, M. G.; Macklin, J. J.; Trautman, J. K.; Harris, T. D; Brus, L. E. Nature 1996, 383, 802.
14. [14]
  Murray, C. B.; Kagan, C. R.; Bawendi, M. G. Science 1995, 270, 1335.
15. [15]
  Kovalenko, M. V.; Scheele, M.; Talapin, D. V. Science 2009, 324, 1417.
16. [16]
  Peng, X.; Manna, L.; Yang, W.; Wickham, J.; Scher, E.; Kadavanich, A.; Alivisatos, A. P. Nature 2000, 404, 59.
17. [17]
  Xu, J.; Voznyy, O.; Liu, M.; Kirmani, A. R.; Walters, G.; Munir, R.; Abdelsamie, M.; Proppe, A. H.; Sarkar, A.; de Arquer, F. P. G.; et al. Nat. Nanotechnol. 2018, 13, 456.
18. [18]
  Son, D. H.; Hughes, S. M.; Yin, Y.; Alivisatos, A. P. Science 2004, 306, 1009.
19. [19]
  Qu, L.; Peng, Z. A.; Peng, X. Nano Lett. 2001, 1, 333.
20. [20]
  Fang, M.; Peng, C. W.; Pang, D.-W.; Li, Y. Cancer Biol. Med. 2012, 9, 151.
21. [21]
  Bruchez, M. Jr.; Moronne, M.; Gin, P.; Weiss, S.; Alivisatos, A. P. Science 1998, 281, 2013.
22. [22]
  Chan, W. C. W.; Nie, S. Science 1998, 281, 2016.
23. [23]
  Stroh, M.; Zimmer, J. P.; Duda, D. G.; Levchenko, T. S.; Cohen, K. S.; Brown, E. B.; Scadden, D. T.; Torchilin, V. P.; Bawendi, M. G.; et al. Nat. Med. 2005, 11, 678.
24. [24]
  Jun, S.; Jang, E. Chem. Commun. 2005, 4616.
25. [25]
  Macklin, J. J.; Trautman, J. K.; Harris, T. D.; Brus, L. E. Science 1996, 272, 255.
26. [26]
  Sfeir, M. Y.; Wang, F.; Huang, L.; Chuang, C.; Hone, J.; O’Brien, S. P.; Heinz, T. F.; Brus, L. E. Science 2004, 306, 1540.
27. [27]
  Rabani, E.; Reichman, D. R.; Geissler, P. L.; Brus, L. E. Nature 2003, 426, 271.
28. [28]
  Won, Y.-H.; Cho, O.; Kim, T.; Chung, D.-Y.; Kim, T.; Chung, H.; Jang, H.; Lee, J.; Kim, D.; Jang, E. Nature 2019, 575, 634.
29. [29]
  Montanarella, F.; Kovalenko, M. V. ACS Nano 2022, 16, 5085.
30. [30]
  Akkerman, Q. A.; Rainò, G.; Kovalenko, M. V.; Manna, L. Nat. Mater. 2018, 17 (5), 394.
1. [1]
  Miaomiao He , Zhiqing Ge , Qiang Zhou , Jiaqing He , Hong Gong , Lingling Li , Pingping Zhu , Wei Shao . Exploring the Fascinating Realm of Quantum Dots. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(6): 231-237. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202310040
2. [2]
  Yu SU , Xinlian FAN , Yao YIN , Lin WANG . From synthesis to application: Development and prospects of InP quantum dots. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(11): 2105-2123. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240126
3. [3]
  Zeyu XU , Anlei DANG , Bihua DENG , Xiaoxin ZUO , Yu LU , Ping YANG , Wenzhu YIN . Evaluation of the efficacy of graphene oxide quantum dots as an ovalbumin delivery platform and adjuvant for immune enhancement. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(6): 1065-1078. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240099
4. [4]
  Yifan Liu , Haonan Peng . AI-Assisted New Era in Chemistry: A Review of the Application and Development of Artificial Intelligence in Chemistry. University Chemistry, 2025, 40(7): 189-199. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202405182
5. [5]
  Peirui Qiu , Xianyun Zeng , Kehan Tang , Hongyun Chen , Guoran Li , Yang Liu . Synthesis and characterization of cesium lead halide perovskite quantum dots: a comprehensive chemistry experiment. University Chemistry, 2026, 41(6): 395-403. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202508073
6. [6]
  Zifeng LIN , Shanshan GONG , Yang SHA , Zhenmin ZHANG , Changlin YU . Graphene quantum dots/SnS₂ composite nanosheets: Preparation and photocatalytic performance in reducing Cr(Ⅵ). Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2026, 42(5): 959-968. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20250320
7. [7]
  Li'na ZHONG , Jingling CHEN , Qinghua ZHAO . Synthesis of multi-responsive carbon quantum dots from green carbon sources for detection of iron ions and L-ascorbic acid. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(4): 709-718. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240280
8. [8]
  Yaqin Zheng , Lian Zhuo , Meng Li , Chunying Rong . Enhancing Understanding of the Electronic Effect of Substituents on Benzene Rings Using Quantum Chemistry Calculations. University Chemistry, 2025, 40(3): 193-198. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202406119
9. [9]
  Qi WANG , Ying CHENG , Yuyan WANG , Yibing XIAO , Haozhe LU , Yansong ZHANG , Shengling LI , Jiazi TANTAI , Na SUN , Lifeng DING , Jinqin GUO , Peng JIN . "Shining dot" in vinegar—Extraction of carbon quantum dots and the fluorescence properties analysis. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2026, 42(1): 87-96. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20250127
10. [10]
  Jianjun Liu , Xue Yang , Chi Zhang , Xueyu Zhao , Zhiwei Zhang , Yongmei Chen , Qinghong Xu , Shao Jin . Preparation and Fluorescence Characterization of CdTe Semiconductor Quantum Dots. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(7): 307-315. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202311031
11. [11]
  Lingqi Zhang , Hairong Huang , Jialin Li , Li Ji , Yufan Pan , Meiling Ye , Cuixue Chen , Shunü Peng . 桂花碳量子点的绿色制备及科普应用方案. University Chemistry, 2025, 40(8): 298-306. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202409138
12. [12]
  Jiangting Li , Feng Ouyang , Qiang Wang , Shang Zhou , Xixu Bao , Yaqi Cheng , Yifei Yang , Pei Chen , Yipeng Chen , Jiye Zhang , Liang Wang , Haijian Zhong . Schottky junction phototherapy mediated by graphene quantum dots for superior antibacterial performance and rapid wound healing. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2026, 42(7): 100223-. doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2025.100223
13. [13]
  Bin Liu . Teaching case design of chemistry “101 Plan” syntheticchemistry experiment course: taking the experiment of preparation of platinum nanocatalyst supported on carbon and determination of its electrochemical catalytic performance of methanol oxidation as an example. University Chemistry, 2026, 41(6): 125-135. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202506043
14. [14]
  Wenlong Wang , Wentao Hao , Lang He , Jia Qiao , Ning Li , Chaoqiu Chen , Yong Qin . Bandgap and adsorption engineering of carbon dots/TiO₂ S-scheme heterojunctions for enhanced photocatalytic CO₂ methanation. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(9): 100116-0. doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2025.100116
15. [15]
  Tong WANG , Qinyue ZHONG , Qiong HUANG , Weimin GUO , Xinmei LIU . Mn-doped carbon quantum dots/Fe-doped ZnO flower-like microspheres heterojunction: Construction and photocatalytic performance. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(8): 1589-1600. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20250011
16. [16]
  Shuting Zhuang , Lida Zhao . Teaching through Research: A Comprehensive Experiment on Carbon Quantum Dots from Microplastic Waste. University Chemistry, 2025, 40(10): 217-224. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202412010
17. [17]
  Longxiang LUO , Xiaoguo CAO , Yannan QIAN . Interface engineering with NH₄PF₆ for CsPbI₂Br quantum dots for enhancing the performance of carbon-based all-inorganic perovskite solar cells. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2026, 42(2): 227-236. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20250279
18. [18]
  Zehui JIA , Bin WEN , Shuting ZHANG , Zhengliang ZHAO , Hongfei HAN , Chuntao WANG , Caimei FAN . Mechanism of carbon quantum dots-modified BiOCl/diatomite composites for ciprofloxacin degradation under visible light irradiation. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2026, 42(2): 317-330. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20250199
19. [19]
  Runnan Yu , Xirui Liu , Xiangyuan Zheng , Bo Wen , Zhan'ao Tan . Undergraduate experimental design for preparing perovskite quantum dots via room-temperature ligand-assisted reprecipitation and investigating their luminescent properties. University Chemistry, 2026, 41(7): 290-299. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202506028
20. [20]
  Hongyan Chen , Yajun Hou , Shui Hu , Zhuoxun Wei , Fang Zhu , Chengyong Su . Construction of Synthetic Chemistry Experiment of the Chemistry “101 Plan”. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(10): 58-63. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202409109

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Metrics

PDF Downloads(29)
Abstract views(2459)
HTML views(313)

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142