Giovannia Pereira, a chemist with a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Coimbra in Portugal, has been a lecturer in the Department of Fundamental Chemistry at the Federal University of Pernambuco since 2011. Her research focuses on nanotechnology, specifically the development of magneto-fluorescent nanoplatforms based on quantum dots (QDs). These heavy metal-free QDs are touted as a more efficient and environmentally friendly solution, with potential applications as luminescent markers in cytological studies. Outside the lab, Giovannia’s thoughts are often consumed by the miles of asphalt she’ll be running in the early hours of the next morning. Running has been a constant companion since her undergraduate days, shaping much of her scientific research by teaching her the value of perseverance and determination.
Giovannia Araújo de Lima Pereira
Chemistry
Projects
Quantum dots (QDs), which are semiconductor nanocrystals, are widely used in optoelectronic devices, sensors, and as fluorescent probes for detecting (bio)molecular species. Copper and silver chalcogenides, classified as type I-VI QDs, are known for their low toxicity and excellent colloidal stability. Under optimal conditions, these QDs have been proposed as generators of localized surface plasmon resonance, paving the way for new applications such as in SEIRAS (surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy). Silver chalcogenide QDs are particularly suited for producing QDs that emit in the near infrared (NIR), making them highly applicable in biological contexts. These properties, which depend on size and surface ligands, can be fine-tuned by optimizing synthetic procedures. Consequently, the pursuit of improved synthesis conditions significantly contributes to the development and application of low-toxicity systems, achieved through simple and environmentally friendly synthetic processes.
