Nanoscaled Materials and Devices for Energy and Photonic Applications

Since the invention of the first transistor in 1949, the science and technology of semiconductor materials and devices for energy and photonic applications have advanced continuously. A central thread of this progress has been the steady reduction in the dimensions in which charge carriers are confined, ultimately reaching the nanoscale. Nanotechnology — often described as the basis of a new industrial revolution — rests on a reliable understanding of the underlying physics of semiconducting materials and on quantitatively precise predictions of device performance. These foundations have driven new concepts and techniques of semiconductor growth and fabrication, enabling a generation of advanced devices with more complex functionality and far higher densities for electronic, computational, and optical applications. Progress in growing semiconductor thin films with tailored structural, electronic, and optical properties, together with layer thicknesses approaching atomic dimensions, has opened new opportunities for both fundamental study and technological exploitation of low-dimensional semiconductor structures.As device dimensions shrink, size effects must be described quantum mechanically to reliably predict the performance of low-dimensional semiconductor systems for electronic and optical use. This Research Topic addresses that challenge by bringing together recent advances in the properties, synthesis, characterization, modelling, and applications of nanoscaled materials and nanodevices for energy and photonic technologies. We aim to consolidate current understanding of how structural, electronic, and optical behaviour at the nanoscale can be predicted, measured, and engineered to deliver next-generation device performance. Particular emphasis is placed on quantum dots and nanowires, and on green synthesis routes that minimise environmental impact while producing materials whose electrical conduction and sensing properties surpass those of silicon-based counterparts. By combining experimental, theoretical, and computational perspectives, the Research Topic seeks to identify the most promising materials and design strategies for the electronic devices and computers of the coming decade.This Research Topic welcomes contributions on nanoscaled semiconductor materials and devices for energy and photonic applications, with a particular focus on quantum dots and nanowires. Themes of interest include, but are not limited to:Structural, electronic, and optical properties of low-dimensional semiconductorsSynthesis and growth of nanostructures, including thin films, quantum dots, and nanowiresGreen and sustainable synthesis methodsAdvanced characterization techniques at the nanoscaleQuantum mechanical modelling and simulation of nanodevicesApplications in photovoltaics, photonics, optoelectronics, and sensingNext-generation electronic and computational devicesWe welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Perspective, and Methods articles. Both experimental and theoretical/computational studies are encouraged, as are interdisciplinary contributions that bridge materials synthesis, device physics, and application-driven design. Topic editors: Hilmi Ünlü, Hakan Karaagac, HIKMET HAKAN GUREL, Burçin Danacı Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80829/nanoscaled-materials-and-devices-for-energy-and-photonic-applications