A nanocrystal is a material particle having at least one dimension smaller than 100 nanometres based on quantum dots and composed of atoms in either a single- or poly-crystalline arrangement. The size of nanocrystals distinguishes them from larger crystals. For example, silicon nanocrystals can provide efficient light emission while bulk silicon does not and may be used for memory components. When embedded in solids, nanocrystals may exhibit much more complex melting behaviour than conventional solids and may form the basis of a special class of solids.