Document Type : Review Article
Authors
1
Department of Computer Engineering. Faculty of Engineering, Yaba College of Technology and Oduduwa University, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
2
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Nigeria
3
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria
Abstract
This review presents a timely and comprehensive synthesis of nano-engineered quantum dots and low-dimensional semiconductors for optoelectronic applications, uniquely integrating recent breakthrough developments from 2023 to 2025 with practical device implementation strategies. Unlike previous reviews, this work bridges fundamental physics, advanced materials engineering, and systems-level integration perspectives, while critically addressing sustainability and scalability challenges often overlooked in existing literature. The burgeoning field of nano-engineered quantum dots (QDs) and low-dimensional semiconductors has emerged as a transformative technology platform for next-generation optoelectronic applications. This comprehensive review examines the latest advances in materials synthesis, fundamental mechanisms, and device integration strategies that have revolutionised the performance of light-emitting diodes, solar cells, photodetectors, and quantum photonic devices. A critical analysis of size-dependent quantum confinement effects, surface engineering approaches, and heterostructure design principles is porposed that enables precise control over optical and electronic properties. The review encompasses colloidal QDs, epitaxially grown nanostructures, two-dimensional materials, and hybrid organic-inorganic systems, highlighting breakthrough achievements in efficiency, stability, and spectral tunability. Particular emphasis is placed on emerging applications in flexible electronics, bioimaging, quantum information processing, and smart sensor networks for IoT and smart city infrastructures. The integration pathways are investigated for quantum dots in next-generation photovoltaic architectures and coupling strategies with advanced energy storage systems. Key challenges are identified in scalable synthesis, long-term stability, and environmental impact while outlining promising research directions for the next decade. This work provides researchers and engineers with a comprehensive roadmap for leveraging nano-engineered quantum systems in practical optoelectronic technologies.
Graphical Abstract
Keywords
Subjects
OPEN ACCESS
©2026 The author(s). This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/