Tuning the collective properties of artificial nanoparticle supercrystals
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 - 15:30
in Physics & Chemistry
Precise ordering in two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) superlattices formed by the self-assembly of individual nanocrystals (NCs) allows for control of the magnetic, optical, and electronic coupling between the individual NCs. This control can lead to useful collective properties such as vibrational coherence, reversible metal-to-insulator transitions, enhanced conductivity, spin-dependent electron transport, enhanced ferro- and ferrimagnetism, tunable magnetotransport, and efficient charge transport. These properties have many potential applications in solar cells, field-effect transistors, light-emitting devices, photodetectors, and photoconductors.