Nanostructured Devices: Low Dimensional Materials and Applications

This lecture provides an overview of low-dimensional devices, focusing on nanostructured materials such as nanowires and quantum dots. The instructor discusses the fundamental concepts of quantum confinement and its impact on the electronic properties of materials. Key advantages of nanowires, including enhanced optical absorption and improved crystal quality due to strain relaxation, are highlighted. The lecture also covers the applications of these materials in solar cells and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), emphasizing the unique properties that arise from their low-dimensional nature. The instructor explains the mechanisms behind nanowire solar cells, including the benefits of axial and radial junctions, and discusses the challenges faced in their fabrication. Additionally, the lecture touches on quantum dots, their synthesis, and their role in optoelectronic devices. The discussion concludes with insights into the Coulomb blockade phenomenon and its implications for charge transport in quantum dots, providing a comprehensive understanding of the current state of research in nanostructured devices.