Nanomaterials based on II-VI Semiconductors

This thesis describes: (i) synthesis and characterization of colloidal nanocrystals of II-VI semiconductor compounds; (II) development of two novel materials using such nanocrystals as †œbuilding blocks†�: (IIa) a nanocrystals/polymer composite, to be used as phosphor in LED-based lighting devices; (IIb) an inorganic, nano-structured multiphase material, showing a promising geometry as an electronic intermediate band material. Different typologies of nanocrystals (single-phase, alloyed or core-shells) were successfully synthesized using air-stable, safe reagents. Their optical properties (absorption spectrum, fluorescence wavelength and fluorescence quantum yield) were mapped as function of different parameters. Good results in engineering optical properties were achieved by: (a) changing size and/or composition in single-phase nanocrystals; (b) tuning shell composition and thickness and/or mutually diffusing one material into the other in multi-phase nanocrystals. The influence of different surface ligands on optical properties and on solubility in different media was also studied. Nanocrystal/polymer composite lenses were obtained from nanocrystals with desired fluorescence wavelength and quantum yield, mixed in an appropriate solvent with polymer pellets. The mixture was drop casted or tape casted on a solid substrate, obtaining solid, transparent lenses after solvent evaporation. A nano-structured, all-inorganic material (composed of semiconducor nanocrystals embedded into a wider bandgap semiconductor) was obtained through self-assembly and densification of colloidal core-shells nanocrystals. The realization of this composite supracrystal was achieved via a multi-step process: (i) colloidal synthesis of core-shell nanocrystals; (ii) surface ligands exchange; (iii) assembly; (iv) heat treatment. Evolution of the optical properties during heat treatment suggests that it is possible to sinter the shell material without altering the internal nano-heterostructure, if temperature and time of the treatment are controlled properly.