With further decrease in the size of the semiconductor materials, the physical and chemical properties changes very different, and their properties are mainly due to large surface area or quantum size effect. Semiconductor nanoparticles are still undergoing research, people are continuously thinking on various applications such as light-emitting nano devices, laser technology, and waveguide. Development in nanotechnology will surely lead to a very significant breakthrough in the semiconductor industry.
Materials Used
Since they have properties that make them intermediate between metals and nonmetals, semiconductor nanoparticles include compound elements of II–VI, II–V, and IV–VI groups in the periodic table. Examples of nanostructured semiconductor materials are GaN, GaP, InP, and the following elements belonging to group III–V such as InAs; group II–VI, including ZnO, ZnS, CdS, CdSe, and CdTe; and group IV, including silicon and germanium semiconductors. Such particles are characterized by wide band gaps, so their band gap tuning is expected to have extraordinary properties. These materials though expensive but can run for a longer time.
Applications
- Nanoceramics based on semiconductor nanoparticles are embodiments of great importance for biosensing applications with holdup detection of analytes. The surface potential of semiconductor nanoparticles is the determinant of performance and attributes of a semiconductor-based biosensor. Such biosensors are helpful for all.
- The fluorescence properties of a semiconductor nanoparticle, which are tunable, have been used to detect the process of photonic biorecognition. They typically show tunable absorbance and fluorescence based upon their tunable size.
- There are parameters that can be varied to control developed properties for different applications of interest, including size, shape, and surface characteristics.
- Indeed, the new properties of semiconductor nanomaterials have attracted much attention from researchers in many emerging application areas, such as nanoelectronics, nanophotonics, energy conversion, non-linear optics, miniature sensors and imaging devices, solar energy cells, catalysis, detectors, photography, and biomedicine.
- In addition to photocatalysis, they are widely applied in electronic devices, photo-optics, and water-splitting, among other apropos applications.
Challenges
Researchers are developing the field of semiconductor nanoparticles remarkably, but they still face many unresolved challenges. Toxicity issues caused by certain materials, such as cadmium and lead, remain major concerns. Scientists are directing more research toward developing alternative non-toxic materials like indium phosphide and copper indium sulfide.
Another major hurdle is feasible and cost-effective production of semiconductor nanoparticles for commercial applications. Advances in new synthesis methods, as well as optimization of existing ones, will be quite critical in large-scale production of these nanomaterials.
Future of Nano Materials
In the future, the integration of semiconductor nanoparticles with one or more nanomaterials such as graphene or metal nanoparticles will hopefully result in the development of novel hybrid per nanostructures exhibiting new properties and functionalities. Another exciting area of research is the association of semiconductor nanoparticles. That too with flexible and wearable electronics, which offers new prospects for smart devices and responsive devices.
Semiconductor nanoparticles are extensive materials for every feature under the sun. And that is why much has been said about them. The physical and chemical properties of semiconductor nanomaterials make them suitable for use in future technologies.
