In a remarkable turn of events four years ago, the accidental discovery by laboratory personnel at Tianjin University's School of Materials sparked a breakthrough in quantum dot technology. Recently, the university’s quantum dot material and device research group unveiled a groundbreaking, eco-friendly, and highly efficient process for synthesizing monodispersed quantum dots. Their findings were published in *Nature Communications*, marking the first global report on this method. This physical synthesis technique outperforms traditional chemical methods in terms of efficiency and environmental impact.
Du Xiwen, a professor at the School of Materials and lead author of the study, explained that when semiconductor materials are reduced to just a few nanometers in size, they exhibit extraordinary physical properties. For example, while silicon typically achieves a solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 33% in bulk form, its efficiency can jump to as high as 66% when it is about 4 nanometers in size. Some materials also emit unique light, and when these nano-luminescent particles are attached to tumor-targeting antibodies, they can precisely mark the location of tumors, aiding doctors in diagnosing conditions and detecting lesions.
These properties make quantum dots—also known as semiconductor nanocrystals—highly sought after in scientific research worldwide. However, conventional methods of producing them have been time-consuming and environmentally harmful. Traditional mechanical processes can only reduce materials to the micron level, which is thousands of times larger than the nanometer scale. Earlier approaches relied on wet chemical reactions, which often took several hours or even days and generated significant amounts of toxic waste.
The breakthrough came from an unexpected experiment. A student in Du’s lab was using lasers to break metal targets into nanoparticles, but due to a mistake, the laser was left running for over four hours instead of the usual three minutes. The team discovered that this extended exposure resulted in ultra-fine metal particles, just a few nanometers in size—far more uniform and desirable than previous results. Intrigued by this anomaly, they began exploring how to use lasers to "knock out" semiconductor materials into precisely sized nanocrystals.
Over the past four years, the team refined this method, developing a physical process that allows for precise control over the size and quality of quantum dots. Using lasers like a hammer, researchers can adjust the intensity to tailor the dimensions of the particles with remarkable accuracy.
Compared to chemical methods, this innovative approach is significantly faster—taking only 20 minutes per run—and produces cleaner, more uniform quantum dots without any residual chemicals. Du Xiwen believes this method could lead to cheaper production of quantum dots, making them more accessible for applications in disease diagnosis, water pollution monitoring, and energy conversion technologies. As the field continues to evolve, this new technique may play a key role in shaping the future of nanotechnology.
Space Capsule Home,Space Capsule Homestay,Space Capsule Modular Homes,Luxury Space Capsule Homes
Zhengzhou guan hao yong International Trade Co., , https://www.homepipes.com