Quantum Dots: What is it and Why is it used?

By Kajal Vats|Updated : September 16th, 2021

Overview-

  • Quantum dots are nanoparticles of semiconductors, in the more elaborated form it can be understood as “Quantum dots (QD) are artificial nanostructures that are semiconductor nanocrystals which exhibit quantum mechanical behavior”.
  • It was theorized in 70s and was initially created in early 80s.
  • It may possess many varied properties, depending on their material and shape.
  • For instance, due to their particular electronic properties they can be used as active materials in single-electron transistors.

Overview-

  • Quantum dots are nanoparticles of semiconductors, in the more elaborated form it can be understood as “Quantum dots (QD) are artificial nanostructures that are semiconductor nanocrystals which exhibit quantum mechanical behavior”.
  • It was theorized in 70s and was initially created in early 80s.
  • It may possess many varied properties, depending on their material and shape.
  • For instance, due to their particular electronic properties they can be used as active materials in single-electron transistors.

Properties of Quantum Dots-

  • The particles differ in colour depending on their size.
  • Quantum dots can be classified into different types based on their composition and structure, which includes core type, core shell and alloyed quantum dots.
  • They have the ability to tune their band gap, which enables them to control the frequency of light emission and absorbance.
  •  After absorbing a photon of light, they emit a photon of longer wavelength.

Applications of Quantum Dots-

  • A reliable manufacturing technology that makes use of quantum dots' properties – for a wide-ranging number of applications in such areas as catalysis, electronics, photonics, information storage, imaging, medicine, or sensing – needs to be capable of churning out large quantities of nanocrystals where each batch is produced according to the exact same parameters.
  • High photostability and brightness of Quantum Dots make these suitable for high-sensitivity applications like leaf cell imaging.
  • Quantum dots have found applications in composites, solar cells (Grätzel cells) and fluorescent biological labels (for example to trace a biological molecule) which use both the small particle size and tuneable energy levels.
  • Quantum dots enable researchers to study cell processes at the level of a single molecule and may significantly improve the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancers. 
  • Quantum Dots display consume less power than current displays, so they are a better choice for applications ranging from Cell phones to large-screen TVs.
  • Companies are now using Quantum Dots for making new batteries which can charge our phones in less than 1 minute.

Future aspect of Quantum Dots-

  • The emerging range of real-time application of Quantum Dots in the field of Biology.
  • According to researchers in the upcoming future quantum dots can also be used as the inorganic fluorophore in intraoperative tumour detection when performed using fluorescence spectroscopy.

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