Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Semiconductors01:22

Semiconductors

1.5K
There is variation in the electrical conductivity of materials - metals, semiconductors, and insulators that are showcased with the help of the energy band diagrams.
Metals such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), or lead (Pb) have low resistivity and feature conduction bands that are either not fully occupied or overlap with the valence band, making a bandgap non-existent. This allows electrons in the highest energy levels of the valence band to easily transition to the conduction band upon gaining...
1.5K
Light as Energy01:35

Light as Energy

95.9K
The energy required to carry out photosynthesis is light— typically electromagnetic radiation from the sun. The range of all possible wavelengths is known as the electromagnetic spectrum.
Photons
A photon is a discrete electromagnetic particle or bundle of energy. Photons are characterized by their frequency, wavelength, and amplitude, similar to the properties of a wave. Waves with higher frequencies transmit more energy and have shorter wavelengths than longer wavelengths that transmit...
95.9K
Types of Semiconductors01:20

Types of Semiconductors

1.4K
Intrinsic semiconductors are highly pure materials with no impurities. At absolute zero, these semiconductors behave as perfect insulators because all the valence electrons are bound, and the conduction band is empty, disallowing electrical conduction. The Fermi level is a concept used to describe the probability of occupancy of energy levels by electrons at thermal equilibrium. In intrinsic semiconductors, the Fermi level is positioned at the midpoint of the energy gap at absolute zero. When...
1.4K
Metal-Semiconductor Junctions01:24

Metal-Semiconductor Junctions

991
The contact of metal and semiconductor can lead to the formation of a junction with either Schottky or Ohmic behavior.
Schottky Barriers
Schottky barriers arise when a metal with a work function (Φm) contacts a semiconductor with a different work function (Φs). Initially, electrons transfer until the Fermi levels of the metal and semiconductor align at equilibrium. For instance, if Φm > Φs, the semiconductor Fermi level is higher than the metal's before contact. The...
991
Biasing of Metal-Semiconductor Junctions01:27

Biasing of Metal-Semiconductor Junctions

583
Biasing metal-semiconductor junctions involves applying a voltage across the junction. Specifically, the metal is connected to a voltage source, while the semiconductor is grounded. This technique is essential for controlling the direction and magnitude of current flow in electronic devices, including diodes, transistors, and photovoltaic cells.
In Schottky junctions, where the semiconductor is n-type, applying a positive voltage to the metal relative to the semiconductor reduces its Fermi...
583
Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light02:00

Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light

28.5K
Light plays a significant role in regulating the growth and development of plants. In addition to providing energy for photosynthesis, light provides other important cues to regulate a range of developmental and physiological responses in plants.
28.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Controlled assembly of two-dimensional porphyrin heterostructures toward directed energy transfer and charge separation.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Metasurface-Enhanced Momentum-Resolved Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy.

Nano letters·2026
Same author

Circularly Polarized Luminescence from Silicon QDs in the Near-Infrared with Chiral Ligands.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

Flexible dimethylsilylene bridges in silicon quantum dot-anthracene adducts promote triplet energy transfer.

Chemical science·2026
Same author

Chiral plasmonic nanostructures fabricated with circularly polarized light.

Beilstein journal of nanotechnology·2025
Same author

Increasing the Structural Chirality of Metal Nanocrystals Created by Circularly Polarized Light via Surface Ligand Engineering.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Synthesis of Core-shell Lanthanide-doped Upconversion Nanocrystals for Cellular Applications
13:51

Synthesis of Core-shell Lanthanide-doped Upconversion Nanocrystals for Cellular Applications

Published on: November 10, 2017

15.9K

Semiconductor Nanocrystal Light Absorbers for Photon Upconversion.

Zhiyuan Huang1, Ming Lee Tang1

  • 1Department of Chemistry , University of California, Riverside , Riverside , California 92521 , United States.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
|November 2, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Semiconductor nanocrystals enable photon upconversion by initiating triplet energy transfer. Surface engineering of these nanomaterials is key to improving efficiency for future applications.

More Related Videos

A Modular Microfluidic Technology for Systematic Studies of Colloidal Semiconductor Nanocrystals
09:58

A Modular Microfluidic Technology for Systematic Studies of Colloidal Semiconductor Nanocrystals

Published on: May 10, 2018

10.0K
Triplet Fusion Upconversion Nanocapsule Synthesis
08:36

Triplet Fusion Upconversion Nanocapsule Synthesis

Published on: September 7, 2022

2.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Synthesis of Core-shell Lanthanide-doped Upconversion Nanocrystals for Cellular Applications
13:51

Synthesis of Core-shell Lanthanide-doped Upconversion Nanocrystals for Cellular Applications

Published on: November 10, 2017

15.9K
A Modular Microfluidic Technology for Systematic Studies of Colloidal Semiconductor Nanocrystals
09:58

A Modular Microfluidic Technology for Systematic Studies of Colloidal Semiconductor Nanocrystals

Published on: May 10, 2018

10.0K
Triplet Fusion Upconversion Nanocapsule Synthesis
08:36

Triplet Fusion Upconversion Nanocapsule Synthesis

Published on: September 7, 2022

2.9K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology
  • Photochemistry

Background:

  • Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) possess unique optical and electronic properties for energy and charge transfer.
  • NCs are effective light absorbers for initiating triplet energy transfer (TET) to organic molecules, crucial for photon upconversion.
  • Triplet energy transfer across the inorganic-organic interface is a limiting factor in photon upconversion quantum yield.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in hybrid photon upconversion platforms utilizing NCs.
  • To discuss the influence of NC properties (size, composition, surface) on TET efficiency.
  • To explore strategies for enhancing TET and enabling broader applications, including biological ones.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of research over the past three years.
  • Analysis of the impact of nanocrystal characteristics on triplet energy transfer.
  • Discussion of surface engineering techniques for defect and coupling mitigation.

Main Results:

  • NC size, composition, and surface states significantly affect TET efficiency.
  • Nanocrystal surface engineering shows promise in reducing energy losses from defect states and exciton-phonon coupling.
  • Development of heavy-metal-free NC photosensitizers is highlighted for biological applications.

Conclusions:

  • Optimizing the inorganic-organic interface through NC surface engineering is critical for improving photon upconversion.
  • Further research into novel, non-toxic NC materials will expand their utility, particularly in biological contexts.
  • Advancements in NC-based photon upconversion hold potential for diverse technological and biomedical applications.