Materials aspects of semiconductor nanocrystals for optoelectronic applications

Abstract

Semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots are at last starting to emerge in commercial applications such as flat panel displays. Meanwhile, they are also showing seriously attractive performance levels in other types of optoelectronic devices. This maturing has been driven to a large degree by a deep level of understanding of materials related aspects of semiconductor nanocrystals themselves and in combination with other materials in the form of composite films to build optoelectronic components. We examine the synthetic and post synthetic chemical strategies that have led to semiconductor quantum dot structures with robust and strong device performance, and review the current work-in-progress as well as longer term developments in the areas of photovoltaics and photoelectrochemical cells, photodetectors, solid state lighting, photocatalysts, and sensing applications.