Surface passivated silicon nanocrystals with stable luminescence synthesized by femtosecond laser ablation in solution

Abstract

We report the synthesis of silicon nanocrystalsvia a one-step route, namely, femtosecond laser ablation in 1-hexene under ambient conditions. The size of these silicon nanocrystals is 2.37 ± 0.56 nm as determined by transmission electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectra indicate that the surface of the silicon nanocrystals is passivated by organic molecules and is also partially oxidized by O₂ and H₂O dissolved in the solution. These silicon nanocrystals emit stable and bright blue photoluminescence. We suggest that the photoluminescence originates from the radiative recombination of electron–hole pairs through the oxide-related centers on the surface of the silicon nanocrystals. The decay rate of the oxide-related surface recombination can be comparable to that of the direct band gap transition. In the excitation and emission spectra, a vibrational structure with nearly constant spacings (0.18 eV) is observed. We propose that the strong electron–phonon coupling between excitons and the longitudinal optical (LO) phonons of the Si–C vibration is responsible for this vibrational structure. The fluctuations in the peak resolution, about ±0.01 eV, are ascribed to the size distribution and presence of Si–O vibrations. These silicon nanocrystals offer stable luminescence and are synthesized through a “green” and simple route. They may find important applications in many fields, such as bioimaging and environmental science.