title: Surface-modified silicon nanoparticles with ultrabright photoluminescence and single-exponential decay for nanoscale fluorescence lifetime imaging of temperature.
abstract: In this Communication, we report fabrication of ultrabright water-dispersible silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) with quantum yields (QYs) up to 75% through a novelly designed chemical surface modification. A simple one-pot surface modification was developed that improves the photoluminescent QYs of SiNPs from 8% to 75% and meanwhile makes SiNPs water-dispersible. Time-correlated single photon counting and femtosecond time-resolved photoluminescence techniques demonstrate the emergence of a single and uncommonly highly emissive recombination channel across the entire NP ensemble induced by surface modification. The extended relatively long fluorescence lifetime (FLT), with a monoexponential decay, makes such surface-modified SiNPs suitable for applications involving lifetime measurements. Experimental results demonstrate that the surface-modified SiNPs can be utilized as an extraordinary nanothermometer through FLT imaging.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Advanced Material Laboratory, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University , Shanghai 200433, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hongzheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yan-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Haiyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhengzhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shao
mesh_terms: D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D012825:Silicon