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Nanotechnology · Recorded milestone

Quantum dots

Recorded year1981

Alexei Ekimov, then Louis Brus, find nanocrystals whose colour depends on their size.

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Built on

Quantum mechanicsRecorded · 1925enables

Led to

Quantum-dot displaysRecorded · 2013enables
Contact lenses that see infraredRecorded · 2025enables
MetalensesForecast · ~2028enables

Sources & evidence

Additional source

Dataset updated 2026-10-18. This individual record has not been separately re-reviewed.