Volume 222, 2020

The shell matters: one step synthesis of core–shell silicon nanoparticles with room temperature ultranarrow emission linewidth

Abstract

Here we present a one-step synthesis that provides silicon nanocrystals with a thin shell composed of a ceramic-like carbonyl based compound, embedded in a porous organosilicon film. The silicon nanocrystals were synthesised from hydrogen silsesquioxane molecules, modified with organic molecules containing carbonyl groups, which were annealed at 1000 °C in a slightly reducing 5% H2 : 95% Ar atmosphere. The organic character of the shell was preserved after annealing due to trapping of organic molecules inside the HSQ-derived oxide matrix that forms during the annealing. The individual silicon nanocrystals, studied by single dot spectroscopy, exhibited a significantly narrower emission peak at room temperature (lowest linewidth ∼ 17 meV) compared to silicon nanocrystals embedded in a silicon oxide shell (150 meV). Their emission linewidths are even significantly narrower than those of single CdSe quantum dots (>50 meV). It is hypothesized that the Si-core–thin shell structure of the nanoparticle is responsible for the unique optical properties. Its formation within one synthesis step opens new opportunities for silicon-based quantum dots. The luminescence from the produced nanocrystals covers a broad spectral range from 530–720 nm (1.7–2.3 eV) suggesting strong application potential for solar cells and LEDs, following the development of a suitable mass-fabrication protocol.

Graphical abstract: The shell matters: one step synthesis of core–shell silicon nanoparticles with room temperature ultranarrow emission linewidth

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
28 sep 2019
Accepted
01 nov 2019
First published
04 nov 2019

Faraday Discuss., 2020,222, 135-148

The shell matters: one step synthesis of core–shell silicon nanoparticles with room temperature ultranarrow emission linewidth

A. Fucikova, I. Sychugov and J. Linnros, Faraday Discuss., 2020, 222, 135 DOI: 10.1039/C9FD00093C

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