semiconductor quantum rods tagged posts

Photo of Nano-Bio System A schematic of the nano-biosystem (top) and an electron microscope image of quantum rods

A transformational advance has been made in an alternate lighting source, one that doesn’t require a battery or a plug: high-efficient energy transfer between semiconductor quantum rods and luciferase enzymes. Quantum rods and luciferase enzymes are nanomaterials and biomaterials, respectively. When combined correctly, these materials produce bioluminescence – except, instead of coming from a biomaterial, such as a firefly enzyme, the light eminates from a nanomaterial, and is green, orange, red, or near-infrared in color.

Each quantum rods is 4 nm wide and 50 nm long...