Dot to Dot

Some natural molecules can be coaxed to produce light known as fluorescence. Hit by a laser pulse, for example, fluorescent proteins are often used to illuminate the inside of human cells under a microscope – but the search is on for even brighter lights. Each of these squares is actually a criss-cross lattice of tiny nanocrystals called quantum dots. Quantum dots produce fluorescence, but when clustered together in a lattice, they join forces, producing an even brighter burst of ‘super fluorescence’. Playing with the overall structure, or the makeup of the individual dots, changes the properties of these ‘super lattices’. Ten million times smaller than a bowl of Shreddies, they have a bright future in computing, and biologists may use an adapted form in medical imaging and research.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

Website

• Image from Empa. Laboratory of Thin Films and Photovoltaics, Empa — Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
• Image copyright held by the original authors
• Research published in Nature, November 2018