The future of semiconductors nanoparticles: Synthesis, properties and applications

Abstract In this review, synthesis, properties and applications of semiconductors nanomaterials was discussed. Semiconductors have become an all-important inorganic materials and their processing into nanoparticles or quantum dots has shown advanced and novel ways of applications. Different categories of binary, ternary and multinary semiconductors were highlighted. Semiconductor nanocomposites, on the other hand, have emerged from the combination of semiconductor nanoparticles with other materials such as metals, polymers, cellulose using different synthetic methods. Among all the methods, green techniques seem to be the interesting protocols for nanoparticles to be applied in biomedical fields since they involve non-toxic substrates and reaction media. Sonochemical method, solvothermal approach and microwave synthesis are among the facile methods which are being exploited and holds great future for large scale nanomaterials. The nanomaterials however are widely applied in photocatalysis, energy, sensing, water purification, biomedicine, electronics with further material engineering for other future applications.