Quantum dots are semiconductor crystals only a few nanometers in size. Their ability to produce bright, precisely tunable colors has made them promising materials for light-emitting diodes, displays, solar cells and other optoelectronic technologies. Yet heat remains a major obstacle to their practical use.

A study from Koç University demonstrates that modifying both the internal crystal lattice and the surface of perovskite quantum dots can substantially improve their thermal stability. While untreated quantum dots began to lose their structural integrity and light emission at around 60°C (140°F), the modified materials remained brightly emissive and retained their cubic structure at temperatures of up to 80°C (176°F).

The open-access study, published in Nanoscale, was conducted by Pouriya Naziri, Saba Sepahban Shahgoli, Hadi Jahangiri and Professor Umut Aydemir of Koç University.