Si–N linkage in ultrabright, ultrasmall Si nanoparticles

Ultrabright ultrasmall (∼1 nm) blue luminescent Si29 nanoparticles are chlorinated by reaction with Cl2 gas. A Si–N linkage is formed by the reaction of the chlorinated particles with the functional amine group in butylamine. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and x-ray photospectroscopy measurements confirm the N linkage and the presence of the butyl group, while emission, excitation, and autocorrelation femtosecond optical spectroscopy show that, after the linkage formation, the particles with the ultrabright blue luminescent remain, but with a redshift of 40 nm.