Researchers Use DNA Coax Quantum Dots Into Self-Assembling into a Light Antenna
Quantum Dots Tiny semiconducting nanocrystals--quantum dots--can be engineered to absorb and emit a range of light wavelengths. Argonne National Laboratory via FlickrOr, how to build artificial molecules Taking cues from DNA research, photosynthesis, and nanotechnologies, a team at the University of Toronto has engineered a new kind of "artificial molecule" that can be assembled into wholly new classes of nanomaterials, including one that can direct and control energy absorbed from light. They've basically built a self-assembling antenna for light out of quantum dots that could lead to wholly new ways of manipulating and harvesting light energy. Quantum dots are those tiny pieces (like, nano-tiny) of semiconductor that can be customized to efficiently absorb and emit light in finely-tuned ways. They are interesting little particles, but thus far scientists haven't really found a good way to coax different kinds of quantum dots into forming complex structures. That's really the major breakthrough here. Mashing up...