Luminescent silicon carbide nanocrystallites in 3C-SiC/polystyrene films

We report optical emission of SiC nanocrystallite films, which clearly shows the quantum confinement-effect. Bulk polycrystalline 3C-SiC was first electrochemically etched and then the fabricated porous silicon carbide was ultrasonically treated in water or toluene suspension to disperse into colloidal nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy images clearly show that the colloidal nanoparticles have 3C-SiC lattice structure with sizes varying from about 6 nm down to below 1 nm. The suspension of 3C-SiC nanocrystallites exhibits ultrabright emission with wavelengths ranging from 400 to 520 nm when the excitation wavelength varies from 250 to 480 nm, in accordance with the quantum confinement effect. By adding 'polystyrene to the toluene suspension containing SiC nanoparticles and coating the mixing solution onto a Si wafer, we obtain the SiC/polystyrene films that luminesce. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.