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Synthesis, Functionalization, and Characterization of Fusogenic Porous Silicon Nanoparticles for Oligonucleotide Delivery
Published on: April 16, 2019
A New Solution Route to Hydrogen Terminated Silicon Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Functionalization, and Water Stability
Xiaoming Zhang1, Doinita Neiner2, Shizhong Wang1
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616.
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Hydrogen capped silicon nanoparticles with strong blue photoluminescence were synthesized by the metathesis reaction of sodium silicide, NaSi, with NH4Br. The hydrogen capped Si nanoparticles were further terminated with octyl groups and then coated with a polymer to render them water soluble. The nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, FT-IR, UV-VIS absorption, and photoluminescence. The Si nanoparticles were shown to have an average diameter of 3.9 ±1.3 nm and exhibited room-temperature photoluminescence with a peak maximum at 438 nm with a quantum efficiency of 32% in hexane and 18% in water; the emission was stable in ambient air for up to 2 months. These nanoparticles could hold great potential as a non-heavy element containing quantum dot for applications in biology.
