New Study Shows Nanocrystals store light energy and drive chemical reactions

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image showing mechanism of nanocrystals storing light
image credit: Willey

It’s time to use a plant to drive a chemical reaction that has never occurred before in this universe. Chemists use light to power this reaction.

The ideal photocatalysts for this process are suitable for the visible light spectrum, but in the real world, we may need to use photocatalysts that absorb a wider range of wavelengths.

Chinese scientists have now introduced “layered” quantum dots. These materials will now be able to efficiently drive challenging organic transformations.

As their name suggests, they don’t cause any toxicity, making them perfect for sensitive skin types.

Quantum dots are tiny crystals of inorganic material that are very finely dispersed.

They are extremely versatile and absorb strongly across the full visible spectrum, making them great for recycling.

The best photocatalytic quantum dots so far have been based on toxic materials, cadmium and lead. They should be banned.

These problems and a limited range of efficacy have been the main barriers to their use.

Researchers in China have developed novel quantum dots with very low toxicity and high performance. These can find uses in the biomedical industry and in solar energy applications.

This new hair color is activated by commercially available blue LEDs—the UV light that is usually required isn’t needed.

There are two secrets to their success. One is their core/shell structure, and the other is their ability to use a wide range of different coatings to store light energy, resulting

There was a second version of the device, a nanostructure composed of layers of gold, silver, and copper oxide that could direct the energy

It is this energetic triplet state that makes it such a powerful form of meditation for them, but it’s also why it can be very difficult

The energy stored in the triplet states of DNA can be transferred to other molecules, making them into triplet molecules as well. They can undergo chemical reactions that are impossible in their ground state.

Read further

Chengming Nie et al, Low‐Toxicity ZnSe/ZnS Quantum Dots as Potent Photoreductants and Triplet Sensitizers for Organic Transformations, Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2022). DOI: 10.1002/anie.202213065

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