Nanocrystalline Semiconductors:  Synthesis, Properties, and Perspectives

Abstract

The synthesis and study of so-called "nanoparticles", particles with diameters in the range of 1-20 nm, has become a major interdisciplinary area of research over the past 10 years. Semiconductor nanoparticles promise to play a major role in several new technologies. The intense interest in this area derives from their unique chemical and electronic properties, which gives rise to their potential use in the fields of nonlinear optics, luminescence, electronics, catalysis, solar energy conversion, and optoelectronics, as well as other areas. The small dimensions of these particles result in different physical properties from those observed in the corresponding macrocrystalline, "bulk", material. As particle sizes become smaller, the ratio of surface atoms to those in the interior increase, leading to the surface properties playing an important role in the properties of the material. Semiconductor nanoparticles also exhibit a change in their electronic properties relative to that of the bulk material; as the size of the solid becomes smaller, the band gap becomes larger. This allows chemists and material scientists the unique opportunity to change the electronic and chemical properties of a material simply by controlling its particle size. Research has already led to the fabrication of a number of devices. This review aims to highlight recent advances in the synthesis of compound semiconductor nanoparticle materials and their potential use in areas such as catalysis and electronic device fabrication.

Cookie‐like Au/NiO Nanoparticles with Optical Gas‐Sensing Properties

“…The precursor solution for the silica matrix was made by mixing tetraethoxy silane (TEOS), methyl triethoxy silane (MTES), H 2 Films were deposited on quartz glass substrates via the dip-coating technique using a withdrawing speed of 100 cm min -1 at 23°C and controlled relative humidity (RH = 25 %). Thermal annealing of the films was performed in air at 700°C for 60 min.…”

“…[1] For example, light emission from semiconductor quantum dots can be controlled by tailoring the size, size distribution, and surface states of the particles. [2] The optical properties of metal nanoparticles also depend on their size, size distribution, and morphology. [3] Different synthesis methods have been developed for preparing nanoparticles with a core/shell structure [4] (e.g., CdSe@ZnS or Au@SiO 2 ), or for controlling their morphological features (e.g., semiconductor rods, [5] stars or triangles, [6] and metal rods [7] ), thus allowing the preparation of nanostructured materials with unique functional properties.…”

Magnetic bead handling on-chip: new opportunities for analytical applications

“…Reviews of the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles in the liquid phase (not limited to magnetic materials) were presented by Grieve et al (2000), Trindade et al (2001), and Murray et al (2000), while a review of the synthesis of such particles from the vapor phase was presented by Swihart (2003). The synthesis and applications of (nonmagnetic) polymer microparticles were reviewed by Kawaguchi (2000).…”

A facile method for the production of SnS thin films from melt reactions

“…In many cases, the uses of SSPs have granted control of both its physical and optical properties that dualsource precursors cannot [9][10][11]. In the last 20 years [12][13][14][15][16][17][18], many SSPs comprised metal (N,N-dialkyldithiocarbamates) [M(S 2 CNR 2 ) n ] have been used to synthesize metal sulfide nanocrystals. More recently, complexes containing (O-alkyl)xanthate ( -S 2 COAk) ligands have been viewed as a potentially useful class of SSPs for the production of metal sulfide nanomaterials.…”