Designing Coherence and Entanglement in Perovskite Quantum Dot Assemblies
With the support of the DMREF Program and the Division of Chemistry, Libai Huang, Jonathan Hood and Christina Li at Purdue University, Jianshu Cao at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Oleg Prezhdo at the University of Southern California are leading a project on designing a new class of quantum materials —one that can enable “wave-like” transport of information and energy from tiny semiconductor particles known as quantum dots. Quantum dots derived from lead halide perovskites, a type of semiconductor material, exhibit extraordinary efficiency in absorbing and emitting light. The principal goal is to understand how these quantum dots can work together, how they communicate, and how to shield this communication from disruptions, a phenomenon known as decoherence. The ultimate aim is to pave the way for the creation of new materials capable of transmitting information and energy in a unique, efficient, and wave-like manner. Such a breakthrough could revolutionize solar cell technology and quantum communications. As part of the project, the team is also committed to sharing their knowledge with a broad audience. This project will also contribute to a more diverse scientific community by offering unique training and educational opportunities for the next generation of scientists and engineers, with a specific focus on increasing participation from underrepresented groups and, as a collaborative, three-institution team, exploring this exciting nexus of quantum chemistry, physics and materials science.