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Copyright 2004 by Marcel Dekker, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2004 by Marcel Dekker, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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dimensional confinement are created in semiconductor structures that areoften described as having a geometric dimensionality of 2D, 1D, and 0D, respectively.They can be formed either <strong>by</strong> epitaxial growth from the vaporphase [molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) or metallo-organic chemical vapordeposition (MOCVD) processes] or via chemical synthesis (colloidal chemistryor electrochemistry). Here, we will be discussing three-dimensional confinement(0D structures) in III–V semiconductors; the emphasis is on materialsformed via colloidal chemistry, but we will also present some interestingresults on QDs produced <strong>by</strong> epitaxial growth using low-pressure MOCVD.The former structures are frequently referred to as nanocrystals and the latteras quantum dots; however, for colloidal nanostructures, we will use the terms‘‘quantum dots’’ (QDs) and ‘‘nanocrystals’’ (NCs) interchangeably.In this chapter, we will first discuss the synthesis of various III–Vcolloidal QDs (InP, GaP GaInP 2 , GaAs, GaN) (with an emphasis on InP), aswell as colloidal InP–CdZnSe 2 core-shell QDs and GaAs QDs formed fromGaAs quantum wells produced <strong>by</strong> MOCVD growth; the formation of InPQD arrays will also be discussed. Then, we will present results of interestingand unique optical properties of III–V QDs and QD arrays, including highefficiencyband-edge photoluminescence (PL), size-selective PL, efficient anti-Stokes photoluminescence (PL upconversion), PL intermittency (PL blinking),anomalies between the absorption and the photoluminescence excitationspectra, and long-range energy transfer. Next, we will discuss the photogeneratedcarrier dynamics in QDs, including the issues and controversiesrelated to the cooling of hot carriers in QDs. Finally, we will discuss thepotential applications of QDs and QD arrays in novel photon conversiondevices, such as QD solar cells and photoelectrochemical systems for fuelproduction and photocatalysis.II.SYNTHESIS OF QUANTUM DOTSA. Colloidal NanocrystalsThe most common approach to the synthesis of colloidal QDs is thecontrolled nucleation and growth of particles in a solution of chemicalprecursors containing the metal and the anion sources (controlled arrestedprecipitation) [1–3]. The technique of forming monodisperse colloids is veryold and can be traced back to the synthesis of gold colloids <strong>by</strong> MichaelFaraday in 1857. A common method for II–VI colloidal QD formation is torapidly inject a solution of chemical reagents containing the group II andgroup VI species into a hot and vigorously stirred solvent containingmolecules that can coordinate with the surface of the precipitated QD<strong>Copyright</strong> <strong>2004</strong> <strong>by</strong> <strong>Marcel</strong> <strong>Dekker</strong>, <strong>Inc</strong>. <strong>All</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> <strong>Reserved</strong>.

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