Nanocrystal
A nanocrystal is a material particle having at least one dimension smaller than 100 nanometres, based on quantum dots[1] (a nanoparticle) and composed of atoms in either a single- or poly-crystalline arrangement.[2]
The size of nanocrystals distinguishes them from larger crystals. For example, silicon nanocrystals can provide efficient light emission while bulk silicon does not[3] and may be used for memory components.[4]
When embedded in solids, nanocrystals may exhibit much more complex melting behaviour than conventional solids[5] and may form the basis of a special class of solids.[6] They can behave as single-domain systems (a volume within the system having the same atomic or molecular arrangement throughout) that can help explain the behaviour of macroscopic samples of a similar material without the complicating presence of grain boundaries and other defects.[citation needed]
Semiconductor nanocrystals having dimensions smaller than 10 nm are also described as quantum dots.