title: Near-infrared luminescent cubic silicon carbide nanocrystals for in vivo biomarker applications: an ab initio study.
abstract: Molecule-sized fluorescent emitters are much sought-after to probe biomolecules in living cells. We demonstrate here by time-dependent density functional calculations that the experimentally achievable 1-2 nm sized silicon carbide nanocrystals can emit light in the near-infrared region after introducing appropriate color centers in them. These near-infrared luminescent silicon carbide nanocrystals may act as ideal fluorophores for in vivo bioimaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Atomic Physics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budafoki út 8, H-1111, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Bálint
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Somogyi
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zólyomi
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gali
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D011789:Quantum Theory; D017655:Silicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D017655:Silicon Compounds; C022088:silicon carbide