This paper reports the application of ligand-field electronic absorption spectroscopy to probe Co(2+) dopant ions in diluted magnetic semiconductor quantum dots. It is found that standard inverted micelle coprecipitation methods for preparing Co(2+)-doped CdS (Co(2+):CdS) quantum dots yield dopant ions predominantly bound to the nanocrystal surfaces. These Co(2+):CdS nanocrystals are unstable with respect to solvation of surface-bound Co(2+), and time-dependent absorption measurements allow identification of two transient surface-bound intermediates involving solvent-cobalt coordination. Comparison with Co(2+):ZnS quantum dots prepared by the same methods, which show nearly isotropic dopant distribution, indicates that the large mismatch between the ionic radii of Co(2+) (0.74 A) and Cd(2+) (0.97 A) is responsible for exclusion of Co(2+) ions during CdS nanocrystal growth. An isocrystalline core/shell preparative method is developed that allows synthesis of internally doped Co(2+):CdS quantum dots through encapsulation of surface-bound ions beneath additional layers of CdS.

Ferromagnetism with T(c)>350 K is observed in the diluted magnetic semiconductor Ni(2+):ZnO synthesized from solution. Whereas colloidal Ni(2+):ZnO nanocrystals are paramagnetic, their aggregation gives rise to robust ferromagnetism. The appearance of ferromagnetism is attributed to the increase in domain volumes and the generation of lattice defects upon aggregation. The unusual temperature dependence of the magnetization coercivity is discussed in terms of a temperature-dependent exchange interaction involving paramagnetic Ni2+ ions.

A general approach for the synthesis of manganese-doped II-VI and III-V nanowires based on metal nanocluster-catalyzed chemical vapor deposition has been developed. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy studies of Mn-doped CdS, ZnS, and GaN nanowires demonstrate that the nanowires are single-crystal structures and homogeneously doped with controllable concentrations of manganese ions. Photoluminescence measurements of individual Mn-doped CdS and ZnS nanowires show characteristic pseudo-tetrahedral Mn2+ ((4)T1-->(6)A1) transitions that match the corresponding transitions in bulk single-crystal materials well. Photoluminescence studies of Mn-doped GaN nanowires suggest that manganese is incorporated as a neutral (Mn3+) dopant that partially quenches the GaN band-edge emission. The general and controlled synthesis of nanowires doped with magnetic metal ions opens up opportunities for fundamental physical studies and could lead to the development of nanoscale spintronic devices.

We report a colloidal synthesis of gallium oxide (Ga(2)O(3)) nanocrystals having metastable cubic crystal structure (gamma phase) and uniform size distribution. Using the synthesized nanocrystal size series we demonstrate for the first time a size-tunable photoluminescence in Ga(2)O(3) from ultraviolet to blue, with the emission shifting to lower energies with increasing nanocrystal size. The observed photoluminescence is dominated by defect-based donor-acceptor pair recombination and has a lifetime of several milliseconds. Importantly, the decay of this phosphorescence is also size dependent. The phosphorescence energy and the decay rate increase with decreasing nanocrystal size, owing to a reduced donor-acceptor separation. These results allow for a rational and predictable tuning of the optical properties of this technologically important material and demonstrate the possibility of manipulating the localized defect interactions via nanocrystal size. Furthermore, the same defect states, particularly donors, are also implicated in electrical conductivity rendering monodispersed Ga(2)O(3) nanocrystals a promising material for multifunctional optoelectronic structures and devices.

We report the synthesis and separation of colloidal indium tin oxide (ITO) nanocrystals in the stable cubic bixbyite (bcc-ITO) and metastable corundum (rh-ITO) phase under identical conditions, based on the size-structure correlation. Both phases are obtained in the same reactions, with nanocrystals below ca. 5 nm in size having corundum crystal structure. This bimodal size distribution allows for the separation of the nanocrystal phases by size selective precipitation. A comparative study of bcc-ITO and rh-ITO nanocrystals reveals a dramatic difference in their optical and electrical properties. Unlike smaller rh-ITO nanocrystals, bcc-ITO nanocrystals exhibit a strong absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) region arising from the plasmon oscillations due to the presence of free electrons. The difference in the free electron concentration in bcc-ITO and rh-ITO nanocrystals is related to the different electronic structure of the donor states, associated with Sn 4+ dopants, in these two nanocrystal allotropic modifications. The donor activation energy is significantly higher in rh-ITO NCs, prohibiting any appreciable concentration of free electrons in the conduction band. The increased replacement of organic protective ligands by anions in the solution leads to the oriented attachment of larger sized bcc-ITO nanocrystals and the formation of flowerlike clusters. These results demonstrate tuning of the optical and electrical properties of complex oxide nanocrystals by selecting their crystal and electronic structures through size and composition and allow for a designed preparation and controlled self-assembly of ITO nanocrystals.