Optical study of II-VI semiconductor nanostructures

In this paper we review some recent optical studies on CdTe-based nanostructures fabricated either by etching two-dimensional structures or by direct growth by molecular beam epitaxy. Photoluminescence can be observed on as-etched wires for sizes as small as 40 nm, due to the combined effect of exciton trapping on radiative centers and low surface damage. It is found that electrodynamic effects are very strong in gratings of wires for grating periods of about the photoluminescence wavelength.