JCE Online Journal of Chemical Education
 | Subscriptions  | Software Orders  | Support  | Contributors  | Advertisers  | 

JCE Print

JCE Digital Library

JCE Software

Only@JCE Online

About JCE


  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2002  > September  >
In the Classroom
Semiconductor Nanocrystals: A Powerful Visual Aid for Introducing the Particle in a Box
Tadd Kippeny, Laura A. Swafford, and Sandra J. Rosenthal
Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235

Cover
September 2002
Vol. 79 No. 9
p. 1094

Abstract
For most undergraduate students, introductory quantum chemistry is a challenging subject with many uncommon, if not bizarre, ideas. It is important to relate quantum concepts to the "real" world. Semiconductor quantum dots can be used to introduce and reinforce important points of quantum mechanics and provide real-world applications that exploit quantum phenomena. Most stunning is the colorful demonstration of quantum confinement; few other instances allow direct observation of a quantum effect. Semiconductor nanocrystals can be qualitatively modeled as a particle in a box. This paper presents methods of fabricating nanocrystals, focusing on the pyrolysis of organometallic precursors. The relationship between energy and nanocrystal size is detailed, and the paper closes with an overview of applications of semiconductor nanocrystals.
More Information
*  Citation
Kippeny, Tadd; Swafford, Laura A.; Rosenthal, Sandra J. J. Chem. Educ. 2002 79 1094.
*  Keywords
Physical Chemistry; Quantum Chemistry; Nanotechnology; Solid-State Chemistry
*  History
Created:
Last Updated:
August 12, 2002
March 16, 2005
  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2002 > September > Page 1094


Subscriptions

JCE HS CLIC

Our Secondary School editors work hard to distill all the JCE materials to produce a fraction of particular interest to high school teachers. We call it CLIC.


Contributions Welcome
JCE welcomes your submission

Advertisers
In recent years we have worked hard to better match our advertisers with our readers. When shopping for chemistry education materials, visit our advertisers' WWW sites first.

Be An Ambassador
Take JCE along on your outreach missions. Copies of the Journal, guest access to JCE Online, our publications catalog, and more are available for your participants.