Uri Banin (

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

: אורי בנין) is an Israeli

chemist A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe th ...

and a professor at the

Hebrew University of Jerusalem The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI; he, הַאוּנִיבֶרְסִיטָה הַעִבְרִית בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם) is a public research university based in Jerusalem, Israel. Co-founded by Albert Einstein and Dr. Chaim Weiz ...

, currently holding the Alfred & Erica Larisch Memorial Chair at the Institute of Chemistry. He is recognized as one of the pioneers of

nanoscience The nanoscopic scale (or nanoscale) usually refers to structures with a length scale applicable to nanotechnology, usually cited as 1–100 nanometers (nm). A nanometer is a billionth of a meter. The nanoscopic scale is (roughly speaking) a lo ...

in Israel.

Biography and studies

Following his military service, in 1986 Banin proceeded on to his academic career, receiving his

Bachelor of Science A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of ...

degree in

chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...

and

physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...

from the

in 1989. He later received PhD from the Hebrew University, under the supervision of Sanford Ruhman in the field of femtosecond spectroscopy, studying the

ultrafast In optics, an ultrashort pulse, also known as an ultrafast event, is an electromagnetic pulse whose time duration is of the order of a picosecond (10−12 second) or less. Such pulses have a broadband optical spectrum, and can be created by mo ...

dynamics of

triiodide In chemistry, triiodide usually refers to the triiodide ion, . This anion, one of the polyhalogen ions, is composed of three iodine atoms. It is formed by combining aqueous solutions of iodide salts and iodine. Some salts of the anion have bee ...

in solution.

Scientific career

In 1994 Banin joined the group of

Paul Alivisatos Armand Paul Alivisatos (born November 12, 1959) is an American chemist who serves as the 14th president of the University of Chicago. He is a pioneer in nanomaterials development and an authority on the fabrication of nanocrystals and their use i ...

UC Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of Californi ...

as a

postdoctoral researcher A postdoctoral fellow, postdoctoral researcher, or simply postdoc, is a person professionally conducting research after the completion of their doctoral studies (typically a PhD). The ultimate goal of a postdoctoral research position is to p ...

, studying the

physical chemistry Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic and microscopic phenomena in chemical systems in terms of the principles, practices, and concepts of physics such as motion, energy, force, time, thermodynamics, quantum chemistry, statistical mecha ...

semiconductor A semiconductor is a material which has an electrical resistivity and conductivity, electrical conductivity value falling between that of a electrical conductor, conductor, such as copper, and an insulator (electricity), insulator, such as glas ...

nanocrystals. In 1997 he joined the Institute of Chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as a senior lecturer, becoming a full professor in 2004. In the early days of his independent career at the Hebrew University, Banin used tunneling spectroscopy techniques in order to study the electronic properties of semiconductor nanocrystals, ultimately reporting the identification of atomic-like electronic states in 1999 in

Nature Nature, in the broadest sense, is the physics, physical world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomenon, phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. The study of nature is a large, if not the only, part of science. ...

. His later work has diverged in the directions of both synthesis of novel semiconductor-based nanomaterials, the physical characterization of such nanostructures, as well as various applications. In 2003 his group has reported the first successful growth of

colloid A colloid is a mixture in which one substance consisting of microscopically dispersed insoluble particles is suspended throughout another substance. Some definitions specify that the particles must be dispersed in a liquid, while others extend ...

al zinc-blende lattice

III-V Semiconductor materials are nominally small band gap insulators. The defining property of a semiconductor material is that it can be compromised by doping it with impurities that alter its electronic properties in a controllable way. Because of ...

semiconductor nanorods. Continuing the work on III-V semiconductor nanocrystals, the group has published the synthesis of bright

near-infrared Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of Light, visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from ...

-emitting core/shell nanocrystals, later employing them in a novel nanocrystal-polymer near-infrared

light-emitting diode A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons. The color of the light (cor ...

. In 2011 the group reported a simple procedure for the doping on nanocrystals, allowing the synthesis of heavily-doped p-type and n-type semiconductor nanocrystals. Some of his earlier works include the study of

cadmium Cadmium is a chemical element with the symbol Cd and atomic number 48. This soft, silvery-white metal is chemically similar to the two other stable metals in group 12, zinc and mercury. Like zinc, it demonstrates oxidation state +2 in most of ...

chalcogenide : 220px, Cadmium sulfide, a prototypical metal chalcogenide, is used as a yellow pigment. A chalcogenide is a chemical compound consisting of at least one chalcogen anion and at least one more electropositive element. Although all group 16 elements ...

molecular clusters as a step between complexes and nanocrystals with semiconducting properties. Setting this work aside since 2002, his next paper on the subject was only in 2017 reporting magic sized

InP Indium phosphide (InP) is a binary semiconductor composed of indium and phosphorus. It has a face-centered cubic (" zincblende") crystal structure, identical to that of GaAs and most of the III-V semiconductors. Manufacturing Indium phosphide c ...

and

InAs Indium arsenide, InAs, or indium monoarsenide, is a narrow-bandgap semiconductor composed of indium and arsenic. It has the appearance of grey cubic crystals with a melting point of 942 °C. Indium arsenide is similar in properties to galli ...

clusters. Subsequent work on related clusters with the groups of Richard D. Robinson and Tobias Hanrath has finally lead to the discovery of the reversible

isomerization In chemistry, isomerization or isomerisation is the process in which a molecule, polyatomic ion or molecular fragment is transformed into an isomer with a different chemical structure. Enolization is an example of isomerization, as is tautomeriz ...

of inorganic clusters – a discovery made by chance during the shipping of the samples. This work was called "the final bridge" between molecules and nanocrystals. One of the most recognized contribution of Banin to the field of colloidal nanostructures is the first demonstration of selective metal growth on semiconductor nanocrystals, resembling well-known bulk systems such as the

Schottky diode The Schottky diode (named after the German physicist Walter H. Schottky), also known as Schottky barrier diode or hot-carrier diode, is a semiconductor diode formed by the junction of a semiconductor with a metal. It has a low forward voltage ...

, and the subsequent refinement of related synthesis procedures and the discovery of similar structures, as well as the physical characterization of such systems. To this day, hybrid metal-semiconductor nanostructures are

state-of-the-art The state of the art (sometimes cutting edge or leading edge) refers to the highest level of general development, as of a device, technique, or scientific field achieved at a particular time. However, in some contexts it can also refer to a level ...

systems in the field of

photocatalysis In chemistry, photocatalysis is the acceleration of a photoreaction in the presence of a catalyst. In catalyzed photolysis, light is absorbed by an adsorbed substrate. In photogenerated catalysis, the photocatalytic activity depends on the abili ...

. One of the breakthroughs made by Banin's lab, employing hybrid metal-semiconductor nanocrystals in water-based

3D printing 3D printing or additive manufacturing is the Manufacturing, construction of a three-dimensional object from a computer-aided design, CAD model or a digital 3D modeling, 3D model. It can be done in a variety of processes in which material is ...

and

photopolymerization In polymer chemistry, polymerization (American English), or polymerisation (British English), is a process of reacting monomer molecules together in a chemical reaction to form polymer chains or three-dimensional networks. There are many fo ...

of common

acrylate Acrylates (IUPAC: prop-2-enoates) are the salts, esters, and conjugate bases of acrylic acid. The acrylate ion is the anion C H2=CHC OO−. Often, acrylate refers to esters of acrylic acid, the most common member being methyl acrylate. These acry ...

s. It was also later shown that such approach can also be used for solvent-free photopolymerization and

microprinting Microprinting is the production of recognizable patterns or characters in a printed medium at a scale that requires magnification to read with the naked eye. To the unaided eye, the text may appear as a solid line. Attempts to reproduce by meth ...

. Banin is widely recognized as a pioneer of nanoscience in Israel, founding the Harvey M. Kreuger Family Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in 2001 and serving as its first director for nearly a decade until 2010. He was the chairman of the scientific committee and a co-chairperson of the first international nanoscience conference in Israel in 2009, now an internationally-recognized biennial conference. In 2009, Banin became the scientific founder of Qlight Nanotech, which was later fully acquired by

Merck KGaA The Merck Group, branded and commonly known as Merck, is a German multinational science and technology company headquartered in Darmstadt, with about 60,000 employees and present in 66 countries. The group includes around 250 companies; the ma ...

for an undisclosed price and is currently located in the campus of the Hebrew University in

Givat Ram Givat Ram ( he, גִּבְעַת רָם) is a neighborhood in central Jerusalem. It is the site of Kiryat HaMemshala (Hebrew language, Hebrew: קריית הממשלה, ''lit.'' Government complex), which includes many of Israel's most important na ...

. In 2019

Nanosys Nanosys is a nanotechnology company located in Milpitas, California and founded in 2001. The company develops and manufactures quantum dot materials for display products. Products Quantum Dot Enhancement Film (QDEF) Nanosys Quantum Dot Enhance ...

signed an exclusive agreement on quantum dot patents developed in Banin's lab and held by Yissum. Banin has been an associate editor of the

American Chemical Society The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 155,000 members at all d ...

journal

Nano Letters ''Nano Letters'' is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Chemical Society. It was established in January 2001. The editor-in-chief is Teri W. Odom (Northwestern University). The journal covers all aspects of nanosci ...

between 2013-2021. In 2020 he joined the

Advisory Board An advisory board is a body that provides non-binding strategic advice to the management of a corporation, organization, or foundation. The informal nature of an advisory board gives greater flexibility in structure and management compared to th ...

of Nanoscale Horizons, a journal published by the

Royal Society of Chemistry The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is a learned society (professional association) in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemistry, chemical sciences". It was formed in 1980 from the amalgamation of the Chemical Society, the Ro ...

. As of 2022, Banin has authored more than 210 papers that have been widely cited. In addition, he has invented more than 35 different patents.

Awards and major grants

Miller A miller is a person who operates a Gristmill, mill, a machine to grind a grain (for example corn or wheat) to make flour. Mill (grinding), Milling is among the oldest of human occupations. "Miller", "Milne" and other variants are common surname ...

Visiting Professorship, 2019 * Israel Chemical Society Prize of Excellence, 2018 *Kolthoff Award from Technion Israel Institute of Technology, 2017 * ERC Advanced Investigator Grant, 2017–2022 *IVS Excellence Award for Research, 2017 *Landau prize by Mifal Hapais (in the field of Applied Nanotechnology), 2015 * Kaye Innovation Award, 2015 *Israel Chemical Society Prize in memory of Lea Tenne for Nanoscale Sciences, 2013 * ERC Advanced Investigator Grant, 2010–2015 * Klachky Award, 2008 * Michael Bruno Memorial Award, 2007–2010 * Hebrew University Rector Prize for excellence in research, 2006 * Willstätter Lectureship, 2006 * Kaye Innovation Award, 2005 *

Yigal_Alon_ Yigal_Allon_(_he,_יגאל_אלון;_10_October_1918_–_29_February_1980)_was_an_Israeli_politician,_commander_of_the__Palmach,_and_general_in_the_IDF._He_served_as_one_of_the_leaders_of_Ahdut_HaAvoda_party_and_the_Israeli_Labor_party,_and_brie_...

_Fellowship_for_Young_Faculty,_1997–2000 *_Award_of_the_Ulshwang_fund,_for_research_program_of_the_Israel_Science_foundation,_1998 *

_Fellowship_for_Young_Faculty,_1997–2000 *_Award_of_the_Ulshwang_fund,_for_research_program_of_the_Israel_Science_foundation,_1998 *Ernst_David_Bergmann">Bergmann_ Bergmann_is_a_German_or_Swedish__surname._It_means_"mountain_man"_in_both_languages,_as_well_as_"miner"_in_German._ ''_Bergman''_is_also_a_common_surname_in_the_United_States,__Sweden,_Germany_and_the_Netherlands. The_surname_may_refer_to: *Art_Be_...

Biography and studies

Scientific career

Awards and major grants

Notable alumni

References