The materials in question are quantum dots, the informal name for chemical structures also known as semiconducting nanocrystals.

所讨论的材料是量子点，这是化学结构的非正式名称， 也称体纳米晶体。

You can use a panel of solar cells to create the current directly, by liberating electrons from a semiconducting material such as silicon.

可以使用一块太阳能电池等体材料中释放电子来直接制造电流。

By changing the electrical charge of the gate, the conductivity of the semiconducting material can be manipulated, allowing current to flow or be stopped – like the water faucet analogy we discussed earlier.

通过改变" 门" 的电荷，我们可以控制体的电性，允许电流流动或停止——就像前面提到的水龙头比喻。