Louis E. Brus

American chemist known for his work on quantum dots

Louis E. Brus

Louis E. Brus

Louis Eugene Brus (born August 10, 1943) is an American chemist and professor known for his pioneering research in the field of nanotechnology, particularly for the discovery and development of quantum dots.

Early Life and Education

Louis E. Brus was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Rice University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1965. He then pursued graduate studies at Columbia University, obtaining his Ph.D. in 1969 under the supervision of Richard Bersohn.

Career

After completing his doctorate, Brus joined the United States Navy as a research scientist at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. In 1973, he began working at Bell Labs, where he conducted groundbreaking research on semiconductors and nanocrystals.

Quantum Dots

Brus is best known for his discovery of quantum dots, which are nanoscale semiconductor particles that have unique optical and electronic properties due to their size. These properties make quantum dots useful in a variety of applications, including medical imaging, solar cells, and LED displays.

Academic Contributions

In 1996, Brus joined the faculty of Columbia University as a professor of chemistry. He has published extensively on the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials, contributing significantly to the understanding of their physical and chemical properties.

Awards and Honors

Brus has received numerous awards for his contributions to science, including the ACS Award in the Chemistry of Materials and the NAS Award in Chemical Sciences. In 2010, he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

Related pages

• Quantum dot
• Nanotechnology
• Columbia University
• Bell Labs