Guest Editorial: Introduction to the JSTQE Issue on Semiconductor Nanocrystal Optoelectronics

The papers in this special section highlight highlight the recent progress and trends in the optoelectronic characteristics and applications of crystalline semiconductor nanoparticles. These nanomaterials, of dimensions below 100 nm and more typically in the 1–10 nm range, are based primarily on II-VI, III-V or Group IV semiconductors and exhibit attractive size-dependent optical and electronic properties. They can be variously functionalized for solution processing and/or heterogeneous integration, facilitating a diverse range of thin films and other structures with customized absorption, emission, and energy transfer properties. Moreover, they can be readily incorporated into a range of photonic crystal and microcavity structures to control light-matter interactions. Optoelectronic applications for these nanocrystals are very broad and include use as fluorescent labels for biosensing and imaging,in new forms of light emitting diode and display technology, innovel lasers including those in mechanically flexible formats, in optical communications, in quantum technology applications, and in solar cells.