Semiconductor Nanocrystals and their Application to Phosphor

Abstract

This article reviews the synthesis and the photoemission properties of semiconductor nanocrystals. The quantum size effects, the growth mechanism, the surface condition for high emission efficiency, and the single particle spectroscopy are described. The liquid-phase nanocrystallization is carried out either in water or organic solvent. Since the synthesis in water has an advantage over the sol-gel processing, we have intensively investigated the application. Glass phosphor with emission efficiencies higher than 50% were successfully prepared from the water dispersible nanocrystals by controlling the surface properties. The degree of photo-degradation is also estimated quantitatively.