Silanization effect on the photoluminescence characteristics of crystalline and amorphous silicon nanoparticles

Abstract

Silicon nanoparticles synthesized by two different methods were surface modified with 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane. The particles of ∼2 nm size exhibit photoluminescence (PL) in the UV-Vis range of the spectrum. The most intense PL band at 430 nm with an emission lifetime of 1–2 ns is attributed to the presence of the surface defects Si–O–Si, generated after anchoring the organic molecule onto the interface. The excitation–emission matrix of this band is essentially independent of the technique of synthesis, crystalline structure, and size of the silicon nanoparticles.