title: Small-sized silicon nanoparticles: new nanolights and nanocatalysts.
abstract: Owing to their abundant unique properties and ready compatibility with Si microelectronic technology, Si nanostructures are becoming one of the most important classes of nano semiconductors. Particularly, small-sized Si nanoparticles possess distinctive photoluminescence (PL), biocompatibility, and active surface properties. In this review, we focus on the synthesis and PL properties of small-sized Si nanoparticles and their potential applications in the fields of bioimaging and nanocatalysis. We further highlight major challenges and promises in this area.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials Laboratory (FUNSOM) and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, China. zhkang@suda.edu.cn
authors.forename: Zhenhui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shuit-Tong
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002384:Catalysis; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004581:Electronics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000295:instrumentation*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008904:Miniaturization; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012825:Silicon