SELF-ORGANIZATION OF CDSE NANOCRYSTALLITES INTO 3-DIMENSIONAL QUANTUM-DOT SUPERLATTICES

The self-organization of CdSe nanocrystallites into three-dimensional semiconductor quantum dot superlattices (colloidal crystals) is demons trated. The size and spacing of the dots within the superlattice are c ontrolled with near atomic precision. This control is a result of synt hetic advances that provide CdSe nanocrystallites that are monodispers e within the limit of atomic roughness. The methodology is not limited to semiconductor quantum dots but provides general procedures for the preparation and characterization of ordered structures of nanocrystal lites from a variety of materials.