Nobel Prize 2023 For Chemistry Awarded To Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus and Alexei I. Ekimov (image-instagram/nobelprize)

The 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus and Alexei I. Ekimov “for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots.” The 2023 Nobel Prize laureates in chemistry have all been pioneers in the exploration of the nanoworld. They were awarded for their discovery and development of quantum dots, nanoparticles so small that their size determines their properties.

Quantum dots are the smallest components of technology which are used in televisions and LED lamps, and which can help guide surgeons to remove cancer tissues. “Quantum dots have many fascinating and unusual properties. Importantly, they have different colours depending on their size,” says Johan Åqvist, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.

Johan Åqvist said at news conference before the announcing the awards that nobody thought that anyone could make such small particles. Presenting the topic with five colorful flasks lined up in front of him that he said contained quantum dots in a liquid solution, he said: “But this year’s laureates succeeded.”

A vey unusual event occurred this year, the news of the laureates’ expected win had been reported earlier Wednesday morning in the Swedish news media. Public broadcaster SVT said that the academy sent a press release by mistake early Wednesday that contained the names of the winners.

Noble Prize for chemistry is the third award to be granted this week. On Tuesday, Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier won the Noble Prize for Physics for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter. The Noble Prize for Medicine was the first award to be given this year. The awards for other categories will be announced in the coming days.