Cationic Silicon Nanocrystals with Colloidal Stability, pH-Independent Positive Surface Charge and Size Tunable Photoluminescence in the Near-Infrared to Red Spectral Range.
In this report, the synthesis of a novel class of cationic quaternary ammonium-surface-functionalized silicon nanocrystals (ncSi) using a novel and highly versatile terminal alkyl halide-surface-functionalized ncSi synthon is described. The distinctive features of these cationic ncSi include colloidal stability, pH-independent positive surface charge, and size-tunable photoluminescence (PL) in the biologically relevant near-infrared-to-red spectral region. These cationic ncSi are characterized via a combination of high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron, and photoluminescence spectroscopies, and zeta potential measurements.
Department of Chemistry University of Toronto 80 St. George Street Toronto Ontario M5S 3H6 Canada.
Kenneth K
KK
Chen
Department of Chemistry University of Toronto 80 St. George Street Toronto Ontario M5S 3H6 Canada.
Kristine
K
Liao
UOW Electron Microscopy Centre University of Wollongong Wollongong New South Wales 2500 Australia.
Gilberto
G
Casillas
Department of Materials Science & Engineering University of Toronto 184 College Street, Suite 140 Toronto Ontario M5S 3E4 Canada.
Yiying
Y
Li
Department of Chemistry University of Toronto 80 St. George Street Toronto Ontario M5S 3H6 Canada.
Geoffrey A
GA
Ozin
silicon nanocrystal cations; silicon nanocrystals; silicon quantum dots