Nanometer-size semiconductor particles coated with another semiconductor can exhibit unusual and interesting phenomena associated with the redistribution of the electron and hole wave functions. Using the band offsets and effective masses, the overlap of the electron and hole wave functions can be altered by changing the core radius of the particles. The theory can incorporate multiple shells, band bending, and charge effects. An efficient method for solving the equations is given.

• Received 24 August 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.47.1359