Si-N linkage in ultrabright, ultrasmall Si nanoparticles

Ultrabright ultrasmall (similar to1 nm) blue luminescent Si-29 nanoparticles are chlorinated by reaction with Cl-2 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. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.