title: Facile production of stable silicon nanoparticles: laser chemistry coupled to in situ stabilization via room temperature hydrosilylation.
abstract: Stable, alkyl-terminated, light-emitting silicon nanoparticles have been synthesized in a continuous process by laser pyrolysis of a liquid trialkyl-silane precursor selected as a safer alternative to gas silane (SiH4). Stabilization was achieved by in situ reaction using a liquid collection system instead of the usual solid state filtration. The alkene contained in the collection liquid (1-dodecene) reacted with the newly formed silicon nanoparticles in an unusual room-temperature hydrosilylation process. It was achieved by the presence of fluoride species, also produced during laser pyrolysis from the decomposition of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) selected as a laser sensitizer. This process directly rendered alkyl-passivated silicon nanoparticles with consistent morphology and size (<3 nm), avoiding the use of costly post-synthetic treatments.
authors.affiliation: Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, CIBER-BBN, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malumbres
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hueso
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gracia
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mallada
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ibarra
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santamaría