A researcher at Virginia Commonwealth University has developed an alternative method for producing semiconductor materials that is environmentally friendly.

Semiconductors are essential for modern electronics and displays, but they are made using toxic solvents and produced under high temperature and pressure conditions, which not only harm the environment but also incur high production costs.

This new technology, introduced by Dr. Leah Spangler, assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering at VCU's College of Engineering, and Professor Michael Hecht from Princeton University's Department of Chemistry, demonstrates an alternative approach using proteins to produce semiconductor materials known as quantum dots at room temperature in water, achieving a more eco-friendly synthesis method.

The study, titled "De Novo Protein-Templated Formation of Semiconductor Quantum Dots," was published in

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Spangler said: "This research uses de novo proteins—these are proteins not derived from natural organisms but designed specifically for a particular purpose. Therefore, this study shows that protein design can be used to control material properties, opening an exciting new direction for future research."

This research builds on natural examples where proteins create materials, known as biomineralization. However, this is the first time designed de novo proteins have been used to control quantum dot synthesis.