Chemical approaches to semiconductor nanocrystals

I discuss the chemistry and physics of semiconductor nanocrystals. Various physical size regimes are outlined in both spectroscopic and kinetic properties. There is a solvation effect on electron transport kinetics due to the electric field of the moving carrier. The importance of chemical synthesis is emphasized with regard to both single nanocrystals, and self-assembled ‘supercrystals’ of nanocrystals. The potential metastability of nanocrystals at standard temperature and pressure (STP), in unusual crystal structures thermodynamically stable only at high pressure, is suggested.