Growing zinc oxide quantum dots at room temperature within solid crystals, mimicking process of geological chemical weathering

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-nature-method-zno-quantum-dots.html

"avoids high temperatures, harsh chemicals, complex liquid solvents... [RZn(X)]ₙ cluster organozinc crystals act as tiny reaction chambers... humid air adsorbs onto crystal surface triggering controlled hydrolysis... R–Zn and Zn–X bonds within crystal break down, forming uniformly sized ZnO quantum dots (4.5 nm across) inside hydrogen-bonded organic matrix semiconductor in 3 to 4 days... all-solid-state low-energy... quantum dots precisely controlled/ extracted... electronics, sensors, energy"