A pioneering material, born out of the integration of silicon nanoparticles and organic substances, could be a game-changer in the realms of solar power and cancer therapy, thanks to its capacity to speed up energy transfers and convert low-energy light into high-energy light.
The innovation lies in minute “dots” that possess the ability to convert light, potentially catalyzing significant progress.
An unexpected union of organic and inorganic chemistry gave rise to this new material. It doesn’t only offer a boost to solar panel efficiency but might also pioneer the next wave of cancer therapies.
Detailed in a recent Nature Chemistry publication, the hybrid material comprises tiny silicon nanoparticles and an organic compound akin to those used in OLED TVs. It exhibits the remarkable ability to accelerate the energy exchange between molecules and convert low-energy light into high-energy light.
The unique silicon nanoparticles can be manufactured in just a handful of laboratories worldwide, one of which is directed by Lorenzo Mangolini, a professor at UC Riverside specializing in mechanical engineering and materials science. Mangolini contributed to the development of the production process for these nanoparticles.
Mangolini emphasized that the novel material is an upgrade over previous endeavors to create a product that can efficiently exchange energy between two disparate components. While the material holds a spectrum of application potentials, its contribution to cancer treatment is perhaps the most impactful from a health perspective.
High-energy light like ultraviolet laser light can create free radicals that damage cancer tissue. The challenge lies in the inability of UV light to penetrate deep enough into tissues to create therapeutic radicals near the tumor. Conversely, near-infrared light penetrates more deeply but lacks the energy needed to form the radicals.
The team of researchers demonstrated the feasibility of achieving photon up-conversion with the new material, i.e., the emission of light of higher energy than the light directed at the material. This process is efficient, and the base silicon “dots” of the high-energy material are non-toxic.
The conversion of low-energy light into high-energy light could enhance solar cell efficiency by enabling the capture of near-infrared light that usually passes through. Upon optimization, the low-energy light could shrink the size of solar panels by 30%.
The silicon dot-based material could enhance a range of applications involving infrared light, such as bioimaging, light-based 3D printing, and light sensors improving self-driving car performance in foggy conditions.
The research received funding from the National Science Foundation and was conducted by teams at the University of Texas, Austin, the University of Colorado, Boulder, and the University of Utah, in addition to UCR. The team is not only thrilled about the potential applications but also about the opportunity to design a new category of composite materials.
Composites, materials that demonstrate behaviors distinct from their individual components, have versatile applications. For instance, composites of carbon fibers and resins, known for their strength and lightness, are utilized in airplane wings and various sporting goods.
Sean Roberts, a chemistry professor at the University of Texas at Austin and the corresponding author of the paper, remarked, “This is one of the first times we have been able to take two markedly different substances and bind them powerfully enough to not just create a mixture, but an entirely new material with unique properties.”
Reference: “Efficient photon upconversion enabled by strong coupling between silicon quantum dots and anthracene” by Kefu Wang, R. Peyton Cline, Joseph Schwan, Jacob M. Strain, Sean T. Roberts, Lorenzo Mangolini, Joel D. Eaves and Ming Lee Tang, 12 June 2023, Nature Chemistry.
DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01225-x
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Novel Material for Cancer Treatment
What is the new material that could revolutionize cancer treatment and solar power?
The new material is a composite of silicon nanoparticles and organic compounds. It has the unique property of speeding up energy exchange and converting low-energy light into high-energy light, which can enhance the efficiency of solar panels and offer new possibilities in cancer treatment.
Who is leading the research on this new material?
The research is being led by Professor Lorenzo Mangolini, a mechanical engineering and materials science professor at UC Riverside. He helped invent the process for producing the specific silicon nanoparticles used in this new material.
How does this new material aid in cancer treatment?
High-energy light, such as ultraviolet laser light, can form free radicals that attack cancer tissue. The problem is that UV light doesn’t penetrate deep into tissues to generate therapeutic radicals near the tumor site. This new material can convert lower energy, deep penetrating light into higher energy light, potentially enabling the generation of therapeutic radicals closer to the tumor.
How can this material improve solar power efficiency?
By converting low-energy light into high-energy light, the new material can help solar cells capture near-infrared light that would normally pass through them. This could potentially enhance the efficiency of solar panels and even reduce their size by 30%.
What are other potential applications of this new material?
Other potential applications of this new silicon dot-based material include bioimaging, light-based 3D printing, and light sensors that would enhance the performance of self-driving cars in foggy conditions.
More about Novel Material for Cancer Treatment
- Nature Chemistry Journal Article
- UC Riverside Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Department
- National Science Foundation
5 comments
Can’t wait to see the impact on cancer treatment. this might be the breakthrough we’ve all been waiting for. Lets hope it lives up to the promise!
That’s a pretty cool invention. But how does it really work? Science is amazing but sometimes its just too complex for me to grasp!
Wow! Never thought we’d see the day when cancer treatment and solar power could be revolutionized by the same material. Kudos to the team. Life’s full of surprises ain’t it?
the potential for solar panel efficiency here is huge!! reducing panel size by 30% is a big deal – our rooftops might start to look different soon.
This is just mind-blowing. Converting low-energy light into high-energy? Silicon “dots”? Stuff of sci-fi movies right here folks. Exciting times ahead.