A new solution route for the synthesis of silicon nanoparticles presenting different surface substituents, Part II

This paper describes a solution route to obtain silicon nanoparticles bearing a large range of surface functionalities. Silicon tetrachloride (SiCl 4 ) was reduced using potassium incorporated in graphite (C 8 K) in dimethoxyethane (DME). The chloride-capped silicon nanoparticles obtained were then treated with various nucleophilic reagents: alkyl, alkoxy, or amino groups bearing trialkoxysilylated substituents. The solubility and the extraction of these particles from graphite depended on the nature of the substituents and their size. They were around 5 nm and showed some order at the nanoscale. Photoluminescence was observed only with amino substituents.