Overview: Multidisciplinary Applications of Quantum Dots in Energy, Biomedicine and Other Advanced Technologies

Taft C.A.; Canchaya J.G.S. · Engineering Materials (2026) · DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-09149-9_2

Resumen

We overview quantum dots (QDs), (2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry), underlining the many areas of important MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPLICATIONS in progress, with emphasis on energy, biomedicine, quantum computing and other selected advanced technologies. QDs, nickname artificial atoms, are cutting-edge technology, zero dimensional (0D), semiconductor nanocrystals (2–10 nm diameter), behaving like single atoms, smaller than Bohr exciton radius, consequently with properties different from bulk (governed by quantum mechanics), i.e. quantum confinement (energy states discretization) allowing extraordinary size dependent properties such as tunable fluorescence wavelengths and band gaps. Numerous QDs properties can be further modified by external manipulation, offering a wide range of important technological/industrial applications and innovative approaches to visualization, diagnosis, treatment and disease prevention. QDs comprise a wide range of structures/materials/properties and can be classified based on the positioning in the periodic table, typically including group II–VI, III–V, IV–VI, IV, 2D QDs, carbon/graphene QDs and perovskite QDs. Applications (many in our daily lives) include (medical diagnostics, monitoring, treatment, tracking, bioimaging, biosensing, gene therapy/delivery, bioanalytical detection, nanomedicine, intracellular/traceable drug delivery for (cancer therapy (skin, head, neck, tongue, pancreatic, breast, hepatocellular carcinoma,..), brain disease, gastric ulcer, liver fibrosis, ulcerative colitis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, amylin-related diseases, leukemia, dental applications, angiogenesis, antimicrobial activity, multidrug-resistant bacteria, wound healing, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, immunological diagnosis); DNA-functionalized probes, pH sensing, pharmaceutical formulations, biomedical/tissue engineering, targeted surgery, labelling, new generation implants, early-stage diagnosis, photodynamic therapy, radiotherapy); fuel cells, solar cells, energy storage devices, solar energy harvesting, catalysts, waste water treatment, photocatalytic hydrogen synthesis, microplastic degradation, environmental remediation, pollutant detection and removal, agriculture, seed germination, organic dye degradation, nitric oxide oxidation; batteries (lithium-sulfur, zinc-air, primary, rechargeable), supercapacitors, sensors, light emitting diodes, lasers, photonics, quantum computing/information/sensing, AI material optimization, QD-miniled/beyond OLED, QDEL displays, wearable electronics, cameras, machine vision, bioactive glasses, photoconductors, photodetectors, phototransistors, screens, antennas; consumer goods including (scratch-resistant surface coatings, cosmetics, inkjet printing, anti-fake detection, perfumes, microwaves, tools, paints, flame retardancy, forensic techniques, fire hazards, thermal stability, sports goods, fingerprints detection). © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad Continental