nanocrystals
Microscopic crystalline particles
Nanocrystals are crystalline particles measured in nanometers—typically between 1 and 100 nanometers across, far smaller than a human cell.
At this scale, materials exhibit unusual optical, electrical, and chemical properties distinct from their bulk forms.
Semiconductor nanocrystals called quantum dots glow in precise colors depending on their size, finding use in displays, medical imaging, and solar cells.
The lab synthesized cadmium selenide nanocrystals for the experiment.
Light emission after absorption
- quantum confinementSize-limited particle behavior
- crystallinityStructural atomic order degree
- surface areaMeasure of outer boundary
- fluorescenceLight emitted after absorption
optical · tunable · emission · absorption · anisotropy · faceting · lattice · defects
Billionth-meter dimension
- nanometersBillionths of meters
- nanoparticlesUltrafine material fragments
- ultrafineExceptionally small in size
- angstromsTen-billionths of meters
Evenly suspended throughout
- self-assemblySpontaneous structural organization
- nucleationInitial cluster formation
- growthIncrease in size
- surfactantsAgents reducing surface tension
precursors · doping · purification · core-shell · annealing · precipitation · microemulsion
Partially conductive materials
- zinc oxideInorganic UV-blocking compound
- siliconMetalloid in electronics
- titanium dioxideWhite inorganic pigment compound
- goldElement seventy-nine
silver · iron oxide · copper · platinum · core-shell · alloys · halides · magnetic
Nanoscale semiconductors with size-dependent properties
- solar cellsLight-to-electricity converters
- LEDsSemiconductor light sources
- drug deliveryConveying medicine to tissues
- biosensorsDevices detecting via biological reactions
display technology · photovoltaics · catalysis · data storage · nanomedicine · sensors · energy conversion · transistors
photoluminescence
Light emission after absorption
- quantum confinementSize-limited particle behavior
- crystallinityStructural atomic order degree
- surface areaMeasure of outer boundary
fluorescence · optical · tunable · emission · absorption · anisotropy · faceting · lattice · defects · stability
nanoscale
Billionth-meter dimension
- nanometersBillionths of meters
- nanoparticlesUltrafine material fragments
- ultrafineExceptionally small in size
colloidal
Evenly suspended throughout
- self-assemblySpontaneous structural organization
- nucleationInitial cluster formation
- growthIncrease in size
surfactants · precursors · doping · purification · core-shell · annealing · precipitation · microemulsion
semiconductors
Partially conductive materials
- zinc oxideInorganic UV-blocking compound
- siliconMetalloid in electronics
- titanium dioxideWhite inorganic pigment compound
gold · silver · iron oxide · copper · platinum · core-shell · alloys · halides · magnetic · luminescent
quantum dots
Nanoscale semiconductors with size-dependent properties
- solar cellsLight-to-electricity converters
- LEDsSemiconductor light sources
- drug deliveryConveying medicine to tissues
biosensors · display technology · photovoltaics · catalysis · data storage · nanomedicine · sensors · energy conversion · transistors · photodetectors
crystal, crystallize, crystalline, nano, nanotechnology, crystallography, nanostructure, nanoengineering