Quantum Confinement Effect
The shift and quantization of electronic energy levels when charge carriers are confined within spatial dimensions smaller than their De Broglie wavelength.
Governing formula
E_confinement ∝ 1 / L² (When dimension L ≤ De Broglie wavelength)
SI unit
eV (Confinement Energy Shift)
In depth
Reduces continuous 3D energy bands to discrete energy levels in 2D quantum wells, 1D quantum wires, and 0D quantum dots, causing band gap energy to increase as nanostructure size decreases.
Examples in the real world
Tuning emission color in semiconductor quantum dot displays by altering nanoparticle diameter.