Exploring Semiconductor Nanocrystals

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last decade, semiconductor nanocrystals have emerged as an important class of functional materials due to their composition and size-dependent tunable optoelectronic and physicochemical properties. Their nanoscale dimensions enable precise tuning of their surface chemistry, electronic band structures, morphology, and excited-state dynamics, providing a powerful platform for investigating fundamental structure–property relationships and for developing next-generation functional materials. Recent advances in synthetic chemistry, surface modification, and interface engineering, along with state-of-the-art spectroscopic and structural characterization techniques, have further expanded the horizons of semiconductor nanocrystals, enabling precise control over their structural and functional properties.

Despite the significant advances, several fundamental challenges still persist, including the controlled synthesis of nanocrystals with a reproducible and well-defined composition and morphology, improving chemical, structural, and photophysical as well as environmental stability, understanding structure–property relationships and controlling defect states and charge carrier recombination. Addressing these challenges is critical for translating the unique properties of these nanoscale semiconductors into desired applications in optoelectronics, energy conversion, chemical and biological sensing, and other emerging areas.
This Special Issue, titled “Exploring Semiconductor Nanocrystals,” aims to highlight and disseminate recent advances in the synthesis, material analysis, fundamental understanding, and emerging applications of semiconductor nanocrystals. We invite original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and communications focusing on both established and emerging semiconductor nanocrystals. Particular emphasis will be placed on advances in materials chemistry, optoelectronic and physicochemical properties, structure–property relationships, and the operation, stability and performance of semiconductor nanocrystals across diverse applications.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to:

• Pioneering experimental synthesis, growth mechanisms, and theoretical/computational studies of semiconductor nanocrystals;
• Surface chemistry, passivation, ligand engineering, and defect chemistry;
• Colloidal quantum dots, perovskite nanocrystals, metal oxides, III-V semiconductors, and other emerging nanomaterials;
• Lead-free and environmentally benign semiconductor nanocrystals;
• Crystal structure and composition, morphology, and fundamental structure–property relationships, as well as nanocrystal heterostructures, composites, and functional interfaces;
• Advanced structural, microscopic, and spectroscopic analysis;
• Stability, degradation mechanisms, and strategies for improving material stability;
• Semiconductor nanocrystals for photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications;
• Light-emitting, photodetection, and sensing applications;
• Photocatalysis and photoelectrochemical applications;
• Other emerging applications and future prospects in semiconductor nanocrystal research.

We hope that this Special Issue will provide a platform for researchers working across inorganic chemistry, nanoscience, materials science, and related disciplines to share recent interesting findings and perspectives and to stimulate further advancements in semiconductor nanocrystal research.

Dr. Yukta
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Inorganics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.