Introduction to Nanomaterials and Devices

Preface

Investigating materials and devices at the nanoscale level has become the topic of discussion in our daily life even at the dinner table. The behavior of nanoscale materials is close, to atomic behavior rather than that of bulk materials. This leads to vivid properties and well-defined concepts, even though the description of these properties can be understood in terms of quantum mechanics, which provides only a fuzzy picture. The growth of nanomaterials, such as quantum dots (also known as atomic designers), has the tendency to be viewed as an art rather than science. These nanostructures have changed our view of Nature. The invention of the transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, and atomic force microscope provided a method for us to observe materials down to the atomic scale, and yet these microscopes are based on quantum mechanics concepts.

To understand quantum wells, wires, and dots, it is imperative to possess a basic knowledge of quantum mechanics and how one can apply the Schrödinger equation to calculate the quantized electronic energy levels in such a tiny structure. This requirement is due to the fact that classical mechanics is limited in providing an explanation to almost all the properties of the nanomaterials. Quantum mechanics, however, can provide an insight and reasonable predictions of phenomena observed in case of semiconductor nanomaterials. This book is by no means a complete or ideal textbook, but it is one step in a changing ...