Lead salt quantum dots: the limit of strong quantum confinement

Nanocrystals or quantum dots of the IV-VI semiconductors PbS, PbSe, and PbTe provide unique properties for investigating the effects of strong confinement on electrons and phonons. The degree of confinement of charge carriers can be many times stronger than in most II-VI and III-V semiconductors, and lead salt nanostructures may be the only materials in which the electronic energies are determined primarily by quantum confinement. This Account briefly reviews recent research on lead salt quantum dots.