Size- and shape-dependent growth of fluorescent ZnS nanorods and nanowires using Ag nanocrystals as seeds

Anisotropic Heavy-Metal-Free Semiconductor Nanocrystals: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

Heavy-metal (Cd, Hg, and Pb)-containing semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) have been explored widely due to their unique optical and electrical properties. However, the toxicity risks of heavy metals can be a drawback of heavy-metal-containing NCs in some applications. Anisotropic heavy-metal-free semiconductor NCs are desirable replacements and can be realized following the establishment of anisotropic growth mechanisms. These anisotropic heavy-metal-free semiconductor NCs can possess lower toxicity risks, while still exhibiting unique optical and electrical properties originating from both the morphological and compositional anisotropy. As a result, they are promising light-emitting materials in use various applications. In this review, we provide an overview on the syntheses, properties, and applications of anisotropic heavy-metal-free semiconductor NCs. In the first section, we discuss hazards of heavy metals and introduce the typical heavy-metal-containing and heavy-metal-free NCs. In the next section, we discuss anisotropic growth mechanisms, including solution-liquid-solid (SLS), oriented attachment, ripening, templated-assisted growth, and others. We discuss mechanisms leading both to morphological anisotropy and to compositional anisotropy. Examples of morphological anisotropy include growth of nanorods (NRs)/nanowires (NWs), nanotubes, nanoplatelets (NPLs)/nanosheets, nanocubes, and branched structures. Examples of compositional anisotropy, including heterostructures and core/shell structures, are summarized. Third, we provide insights into the properties of anisotropic heavy-metal-free NCs including optical polarization, fast electron transfer, localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR), and so on, which originate from the NCs' anisotropic morphologies and compositions. Finally, we summarize some applications of anisotropic heavy-metal-free NCs including catalysis, solar cells, photodetectors, lighting-emitting diodes (LEDs), and biological applications. Despite the huge progress on the syntheses and applications of anisotropic heavy-metal-free NCs, some issues still exist in the novel anisotropic heavy-metal-free NCs and the corresponding energy conversion applications. Therefore, we also discuss the challenges of this field and provide possible solutions to tackle these challenges in the future.

Facile synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity of Ag–SnS nanocomposites

The enhanced photocatatlytic properties of Ag–SnS nanocomposites are considered to be due to the synergistic effect of high surface area, broad range of photon absorption and efficient charge separation.

Heavy-Metal-Free Colloidal Semiconductor Nanorods: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

Quasi-1D colloidal semiconductor nanorods (NRs) are at the forefront of nanoparticle (NP) research owing to their intriguing size-dependent and shape-dependent optical and electronic properties. The past decade has witnessed significant advances in both fundamental understanding of the growth mechanisms and applications of these stimulating materials. Herein, the state-of-the-art of colloidal semiconductor NRs is reviewed, with special emphasis on heavy-metal-free materials. The main growth mechanisms of heavy-metal-free colloidal semiconductor NRs are first elaborated, including anisotropic-controlled growth, oriented attachment, solution-liquid-solid method, and cation exchange. Then, structural engineering and properties of semiconductor NRs are discussed, with a comprehensive overview of core/shell structures, alloying, and doping, as well as semiconductor-metal hybrid nanostructures, followed by highlighted practical applications in terms of photocatalysis, photodetectors, solar cells, and biomedicine. Finally, challenges and future opportunities in this fascinating research area are proposed.

Morphology control of exciton fine structure in polar and nonpolar zinc sulfide nanorods

Electron-hole exchange interaction in semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) splits the band-edge exciton manifold into optically active ("bright") and passive ("dark") states, leading to a complicated exciton fine structure. In the present work, we resolve by atomistic million-atom many-body pseudopotential calculations the exciton fine structure in colloidal polar and nonpolar zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanorods (NRs). We explore that polar NRs with high symmetry exhibit vanishing fine structure splitting (FSS), and are therefore ideal sources of entangled photon pairs. In contrast, nonpolar NRs grown along [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] directions with reduced symmetries have significant FSS, which can even reach up to a few mili electron volts. However, such large FSS can be effectively minimized to a few micro electron volts, or even less, by a simple morphology control.

Investigation of composition dependent structural and optical properties of the Zn1−xCdxS, coaxial Zn0.99−xCdxCu0.01S/ZnS, Zn0.99−xCdxMn0.01S nanorods generated by a one-step hydrothermal process

Doping Cu²⁺and Mn²⁺ions into Zn_1−xCd_xS NRs makes the samples exhibit a strong emission at 509.6 and 583 nm.

Solution-phase catalytic synthesis, characterization and growth kinetics of Ag2S–CdS matchstick-like heteronanostructures

Ag₂S nanocrystals are catalytically active in the growth of CdS nanorods in oleylamine, and the reaction yields Ag₂S–CdS matchstick-like heteronanostructures.

Controllable synthesis of metal selenide heterostructures mediated by Ag2Se nanocrystals acting as catalysts

Ag2Se nanocrystals were demonstrated to be novel semiconductor mediators, or in other word catalysts, for the growth of semiconductor heterostructures in solution. This is a result of the unique feature of Ag2Se as a fast ion conductor, allowing foreign cations to dissolve and then to heterogrow the second phase. Using Ag2Se nanocrystals as catalysts, dimeric metal selenide heterostructures such as Ag2Se-CdSe and Ag2Se-ZnSe, and even multi-segment heterostructures such as Ag2Se-CdSe-ZnSe and Ag2Se-ZnSe-CdSe, were successfully synthesized. Several interesting features were found in the Ag2Se based heterogrowth. At the initial stage of heterogrowth, a layer of the second phase forms on the surface of an Ag2Se nanosphere, with a curved junction interface between the two phases. With further growth of the second phase, the Ag2Se nanosphere tends to flatten the junction surface by modifying its shape from sphere to hemisphere in order to minimize the conjunct area and thus the interfacial energy. Notably, the crystallographic relationship of the two phases in the heterostructure varies with the lattice parameters of the second phase, in order to reduce the lattice mismatch at the interface. Furthermore, a small lattice mismatch at the interface results in a straight rod-like second phase, while a large lattice mismatch would induce a tortuous product. The reported results may provide a new route for developing novel selenide semiconductor heterostructures which are potentially applicable in optoelectronic, biomedical, photovoltaic and catalytic fields.

Size, shape-dependent growth of semiconductor heterostructures mediated by Ag2Se nanocrystals as seeds

Size- and shape-controllable Ag2Se-ZnS nanorods (NRs) and nanowires (NWs) have been synthesized successfully by the solution-liquid-solid (SLS) method. By using Ag2Se nanocrystals (NCs) as seeds and catalyst, colloidal Ag2Se-ZnS NRs and NWs with controllable diameters and lengths in ranges of 5-12 nm and 15-600 nm were successfully synthesized by altering the experimental variables, such as diameter of Ag2Se NCs, amount of precursor, reaction time, and reaction temperature. The Ag2Se NCs not only played a key role in the control of the shape of ZnS NCs but also influenced the crystal structure of ZnS NCs. The related surface photovoltage of heterostructured Ag2Se-ZnS NWs have also been studied and the formation of Ag2Se-ZnS heterostructure was confirmed. Moreover, this SLS method was successfully exploited to synthesize Ag2S-ZnS heterostructures.