Three scientists share this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

This year's laureates "have managed to produce particles so small that their properties are determined by quantum phenomena. The particles, which are called quantum dots, are now of great importance in nanotechnology," said the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

STOCKHOLM-- Three scientists, Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus and Alexei I. Ekimov, won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, "for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced today, Wednesday.

The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry rewards the discovery and development of quantum dots, nanoparticles so small that their size determines their properties, the academy said in a statement.

"These smaller nanotechnology components now spread their light from televisions and LED lamps, and can also guide surgeons when removing tumor tissue, among many other things," he added. This year's winners "have managed to produce particles so small that their properties are determined by quantum phenomena.

The particles, which are called quantum dots, are now of great importance in nanotechnology," the statement said. "Quantum dots have many fascinating and unusual properties. Importantly, they have different colors depending on their size," said Johan Aqvist, chairman of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.

In the early 1980s, Ekimov managed to create size-dependent quantum effects in colored glass. The color came from copper chloride nanoparticles, and Ekimov showed that particle size affected the color of the glass through quantum effects.

A few years later, Brus was the first scientist in the world to test size-dependent quantum effects in particles floating freely in a fluid.

In 1993, Bawendi revolutionized the chemical production of quantum dots, resulting in near-perfect particles. This high quality was necessary for them to be used in applications.

Quantum dots now light up computer monitors and television screens based on QLED technology. They also add nuances to the light of some LED lamps, and are used by biochemists and doctors to map biological tissue. Researchers believe that in the future they could contribute to flexible electronics, tiny sensors, thinner solar cells and encrypted quantum communication, the statement said.

"(I am) very surprised, unexpected and very honored," Bawendi said in the on-site telephone interview about his reactions. Bawendi, born in 1961 in Paris, France, earned his PhD in 1988 from the University of Chicago in the United States. He is now a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Brus, born in 1943 in Cleveland, United States, earned his doctorate in 1969 from Columbia University. He is now a professor at Columbia University.

Ekimov, born in 1945 in the USSR, obtained his doctorate in 1974 at the Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russia. He was the chief scientist of Nanocrystals Technology Inc., United States.

The prize amount is 11 million Swedish krona (about 1 million US dollars) and will be shared equally between the three winners. (1 Swedish krona = 0.091 US dollar).

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