Lithographically Defined Quantum Dots

In such an arrangement, the charge carriers will again be confined in all three dimensions. 

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The size of a quantum dot is important for the tunable light emission characteristic. A small quantum dot, such as a colloidal semiconductor nanocrystal, can be as small as 2 to 10 nm [6]. A self-assembled quantum dot is typically between 10 and 50 nm in size [7]. A quantum dot defined by lithographically patterned gate electrodes or by etching on two-dimensional electron gases in semiconductor heterostructures can have lateral dimensions exceeding 100 nm [8]. 

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