The selective arrangement of nano-sized domains of metallic, semiconducting and magnetic materials into a single �hybrid� nanoparticle offers an intriguing route to engineer nanomaterials with multiple functionalities or the enhanced properties of one domain. We will present recent strategies to create semiconductor-metal hybrid nanoparticles, highlight the emergent properties of these multi-component materials, and discuss their potential applicability in different technologies. One aspect of the multifunctionalilty of hybrid metal-semiconductor nanoprticles is related to light induced charge separation that was found to take place at the metal-semiconductor interface in such hybrids opening the path to their implementation in solar energy harvesting. Another aspect is that of impurity doping in such colloidal nanocrystals which presents an important challenge. Successful control of doping and its understanding provide n- and p-doped semiconductor nanocrystals which greatly enhance the potential application of such materials in solar cells, thin-film transistors, and optoelectronic devices prepared by facile bottom-up methods.

Hybrid metal-semiconductor nanoparticles: From photocatalysis to doping

244th National Meeting (2012)

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