Silicon nanoparticles with chemically tailored surfaces

Abstract

Silicon nanoparticles are useful materials for optoelectronic devices, solar cells and biological markers. The synthesis of air-stable nanoparticles with tunable optoelectronic properties is highly desirable. The mechanochemical synthesis of silicon nanoparticles via high-energy ball milling produces a variety of covalently bonded surfaces depending on the nature of the organic liquid used in the milling process. The use of the C 8 reactants including octanoic acid, 1-octanol, 1-octaldehyde and 1-octene results in passivated surfaces characterized by strong Si-C bonds or strong Si-O bonds. The surfaces of the nanoparticles were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The nanoparticles were soluble in common organic solvents and remarkably stable against agglomeration and air oxidation. The luminescence and optical properties of the nanoparticles were very sensitive to the nature of their passivating surface.

Water-soluble PEGylated silicon nanoparticles and their assembly into swellable nanoparticle aggregates

“…The emission spectra of alkyne-terminated and azido-terminated Si nanoparticles were recorded with various excitation wavelengths, ranging from 300 to 400 nm in CH 2 Cl 2 . All the nanoparticles being studied show a strong emission in the range of 300-700 nm, consistent with the emission spectra of other functionalized silicon nanoparticles formed by RHEBM (Hallmann et al 2011;Heintz et al 2007;Heintz et al 2010). The broadness of the emission spectra is consistent with the polydispersity of the Si nanoparticles.…”

“…Thus, RHEBM of silicon in the presence of 1-octyne results in the formation of colloidal silicon nanoparticles in which the carbon-carbon triple bond is formally reduced to form a covalently attached octenyl ligand shell (Heintz et al 2007). If the ball milling is performed in a stoichiometric excess of either a,xdiynes (Heintz et al 2010) or a,x-chloroalkynes (Hallmann et al 2011), an alkyne end of these molecules attaches covalently with the surface, leaving either an alkyne or chloro group exposed at the perimeter of the ligand shell. The chloro group can be easily converted to an azide group via nucleophilic displacement by the azide ion.…”

In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Molecular Effects Related to Silicon Nanoparticles Exposures

“…Many researchers and we have studied the different potential effects of nanomaterials with various compositions and properties on human and environmental health in vitro and in vivo settings (Sonmez et al 2015, Leite-Silva et al 2016, Turkez et al 2016. Nanostructures of silicon, including particles, dots, wires, rods and ribbons, have sparked much interest due to their unique electronic/mechanical properties and the improved performances, and make their potential application in many areas such as optoelectronic devices, solar cells and biological markers (Chantrenne and Lysenko 2005, Cavarroc et al 2006, Zschech et al 2007, Baca et al 2007, Schmidt et al 2009, Heintz et al 2010. Among the different routes of nanoparticles exposure include inhalation, dermal, oral, and in the case of biomedical applications.…”

Silicon nanoparticles synthesised through reactive high-energy ball milling: enhancement of optical properties from the removal of iron impurities

“…They possess dangling bonds consisting of surface bound SiHSi bonds and silicon radicals which react immediately with the surrounding alkynes to form surfaces with stable SiÀ ÀC bonds. [10,11] The process eventually leads to the production of colloidal blue-luminescent alkenyl-passivated SiNPs. [10] RHEBM is a simple and inexpensive method to prepare SiNPs.…”