Block copolymer-templated synthesis and organization of semiconductor nanocrystals

Templates formed by the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers in selective solvents have been found to be instrumental in controlling critical parameters in semiconductor nanomaterials fabrication, including particle size, shape, and composition. These tunable nanoreactors exhibit rich polymorphism and have enabled the synthesis of a variety of nanostructures such as dots, wires, tubes, hollow spheres, and 2-D structures by growth-under-confinement at room temperature. The encapsulated particles have optical and electronic properties that are dependent upon physical dimensions and morphology, and exhibit inherent stability and functionalization flexibility, thus opening up promising prospects through their integration into functional optoelectronic and biological systems.