QuantumLeaP

Advancing Quantum Dot Lightsources by Learning from Proteins

01/10/2025 to 30/09/2029

Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) are “artificial atoms” with many analogies to elemental atoms, including their propensity to serve as building blocks for the design of more complex structures with tailored properties, so-called QD supercrystals. Currently available supercrystals exhibit limited crystalline quality due to the difficulties of crystallizing macromolecular objects like QDs. This problem bears analogies to the early days of protein crystallization, a sub-discipline of structural biology which has seen many decades of improvement and the development of dedicated techniques tailored to the specific requirements of macromolecules. The key objective of the proposed development is the adaption of protein crystallization techniques for the synthesis of quantum dot (QD) supercrystals with unprecedented quality. To this end, I will seek the expertise of leading experts in macromolecular crystallization, identify and master those techniques that have the greatest potential to be applicable for the growth of QD supercrystals and implement them in the working group in Tübingen. Such improved QD supercrystals would provide the foundation for the application of QDs in ultrabright, subnanosecond light communication.
The implementation will encompass multiple on-site visits to EMBL (Hamburg) for developing the crystallization procedures and to ETH Zürich for quantifying superradiant effects in the supercrystals. This will be followed by the acquisition of new scientific equipment and training of PhD students in Tübingen in the new techniques. The hosting of two international symposia for bringing together experts from biomolecular crystallization and QD research, the publication of a perspective/review article on the topic and the development of a masters lecture at U Tübingen will ensure the sustainability of this strategic development.