The awarding body for the "Nobel Prize" announced today, Wednesday, that scientists Moungi Bawendi, Louis Brus, and Alexei Ekimov have won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2023 for "the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots." The academy granting the award stated: "Researchers believe that in the future, they can contribute to flexible electronics, small sensors, thin solar cells, and encrypted quantum communications." Nanoparticles and quantum dots are used in LED lights and television screens and can also be used to guide surgeons during the removal of cancerous tissues.
Earlier today, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences accidentally published the names of the three scientists, although the awarding institute had said that the decision would not be announced for hours. The academy wrote in an email: "The Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2023 is awarded in recognition of the discovery and development of quantum dots, which are very small nanoparticles whose size controls their properties." However, Johan Akfest, the chairman of the Nobel Prize Committee for Chemistry at the academy, told Reuters: "It is a mistake by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Our meeting starts at 09:30 Central European Time (07:30 GMT), so no decision has been made yet. The winners have not been chosen."
