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 ก.ย. 2562
Accepted
01 พ.ย. 2562
First published
04 พ.ย. 2562

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

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements