Quantized Semiconductor Particles: A novel state of matter for materials science

Abstract

The optical, electronic, and catalytic properties of semiconductor Q‐particles differ significantly from those of either the bulk materials or of the molecules, as the nanometer‐size particles exhibit effects due to quantum confinement. The methods of preparing these materials, their characterization, their properties, and their applications are reviewed, and the requirements for future progress, even the extension of the work to nanometer‐sized metal particles, are discussed.