Structure and photophysics of semiconductor nanocrystals

Nanoparticle research is still a rapidly growing field of science. Semiconductor nanocrystals of a large variety of compositions have been prepared in exceedingly good quality. State-of-the-art preparations and standard characterization methods are discussed. The build-up of more complex nanoheterostructures is reported, and their structural and electronic properties are outlined. An overview is given on recent achievements in the photophysical investigations of single nanoparticles and the application of EXAFS spectroscopy to the study of structural properties of semiconductor nanoparticles.