Nanocrystal

A nanocrystal is a crystalline substance whose size is in the nanometer range, a nanoparticle with a largely crystalline structure. These materials are technically interesting because many of their electrical and thermodynamic properties are dependent on their size. This allows the development of these properties to be controlled through precise processing of the material.

In addition, nanocrystals are interesting for research because their crystal lattice can be partially homogeneous. The information gained from research on these single crystal structures can help to understand the behavior of macroscopic samples of similar materials, the crystalline structure of which has lattice defects such as grain boundaries , which would make research difficult.

Semiconducting nanocrystals in the size range of less than 10 nanometers are often referred to as quantum dots .