[en] We review the results of our research towards tailoring morphology and optical properties of films consisting of closely-spaced nanocrystals of CdSe and CdS whose optical band-gap can be tuned to cover the whole visible spectral range. On basis of the obtained results, in particular of photoexcited carrier dynamics, we have proposed a microscopic model that describes well the optical properties of the films. We have also showed that the spin relaxation of electrons in these nanocrystalline films is different than that in mutually isolated nanocrystals of the same size. (copyright 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim) (orig.)

[en] We combine optical spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy to study the growth and the structural morphology of CdSe films prepared by chemical bath deposition (CBD) on two considerably different substrates. The films grown on glass are compact and strongly adherent to the substrate. On the contrary, the films deposited on carbon-coated glass (with approx. 20 nm thick amorphous carbon layer) are only loosely adherent to the substrate. Using transmission electron microscopy we revealed that even though the films grown on both substrates are assembled from closely spaced nanocrystals with diameter of about 5 nm, the films morphology on the sub-micrometer scale is considerably different in the two cases. While the films deposited on glass are rather compact, the films prepared on carbon layer have high porosity and are formed by interconnected spheres which size is dependent on the duration of deposition (e.g. 155 nm for 6 h and 350 nm for 24 h). This shows that the choice of the substrate for CBD has a stronger influence on the sub-micrometer film morphology than on the properties of individual nanocrystals forming the film