The Molecular Underpinnings of Nanoscale Semiconductor Synthesis

Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals continue to captivate due to tunability of optoelectronic properties via size-dependent quantum confinement. The ability to tune every aspect of these materials through synthetic manipulation, from their composition and size to their surface chemistry and ligand shell, enables a wide range of physical and chemical characteristics. The innate modularity of inorganic nanomaterials has led to their incorporation into many technologies, such as photovoltaics, LEDs, displays, bioimaging, and sensing, with the ability to revolutionize many others.

However, the roles that additives, precursor identity, ligand structure, and discrete intermediates play in the construction and modification of these materials are still being deciphered. To enable the rational design of future nanomaterials, an in-depth understanding of the molecular processes that dictate the nucleation, growth mechanism, structure, and properties of colloidal nanocrystals has been undertaken.

The scope of this Research Topic will cover recent advances in the field of nanocrystal synthesis. Areas covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:

- Precursor chemistry in the synthesis of inorganic nanomaterials
- Clusters and other kinetically stable intermediates
- Coordination chemistry of ligands and post-synthetic ligand modification
- Spectroscopic characterization of precursors, intermediates, and products

Keywords: Semiconductors, Colloidal Nanocrystals, Synthesis of Inorganic Nanomaterials, post-synthetic ligand modification

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