Luminescence from colloidal 3C-SiC nanocrystals in different solvents

We have investigated the role of the solvents in the luminescence from colloidal 3C-SiC suspensions. By dispersing electrochemically etched polycrystalline 3C-SiC wafers in water, ethanol, or toluene, we have fabricated suspensions of 3C-SiC nanocrystals that exhibit intense photoluminescence. By taking into account the quantum confinement effect and observed size distributions of the 3C-SiC crystallites, a simple model is formulated to explain the photoluminescence spectra. Our results show that the colloidal 3C-SiC nanocrystals are robust and intense emitters that have good chemical stability and biocompatibility. They are thus useful in biotechnology and nano-optoelectronics applications.