Abstract
Semiconductor nanostructures show different properties compared to their
bulk counterparts due to quantum confinement effects and enhanced surface-to-volume
ratio with the reduction in particle size on nanoscale dimensions. This chapter
introduces the nanomaterials, especially semiconductor nanostructures of various
morphologies, quantum nanostructures (quantum dots, quantum wires and quantum
wells) along with conventional 3D nanostructures. The present time is the introductory
era of nanoscience and nanotechnology; synthesis of highly monodisperse
nanostructures for device applications is a challenge for researchers and technocrats.
This chapter discusses at length fascinatingly the bottom-up and top-down synthesis
approaches along with the commonly used nanomaterial synthesis techniques, such as
mechanical milling, lithography, electrospinning, template synthesis, chemical
precipitation, sol-gel method, hydrothermal/solvothermal method, laser ablation, and
other vapour processing methods.
Keywords: Electrospinning, Lithography, Laser ablation, Milling, Sol-gel, Semiconductor nanostructures, Template synthesis, Vapour deposition techniques.