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Silicene Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Spectroscopy, and Electrochemical Studies
Peiguang Hu1, Limei Chen1, Jia-En Lu1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California , 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|February 6, 2018
Summary
Synthesized silicene quantum dots (SiQDs) show strong photoluminescence and unique electrochemical properties. Functionalized SiQDs exhibit photoinduced electron transfer, enabling new applications in optoelectronics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemistry
Background:
- Silicene quantum dots (SiQDs) are emerging nanomaterials with unique electronic and optical properties.
- Functionalization of SiQDs is crucial for tailoring their properties and enabling specific applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize organically functionalized SiQDs.
- To investigate the photoluminescence and electrochemical behavior of these functionalized SiQDs.
Main Methods:
- Chemical exfoliation of calcium silicide to obtain SiQDs.
- Hydrosilylation for organic functionalization with olefin/acetylene derivatives.
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), NMR, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for characterization.
- Photoluminescence and electrochemical measurements (cyclic voltammetry).
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized ca. 2 nm SiQDs with ca. four atomic layers.
- SiQDs exhibited strong photoluminescence at 385 nm, with intensity dependent on functionalization.
- Ferrocene-functionalized SiQDs showed distinct electrochemical responses in the dark and under UV irradiation, indicating photoinduced electron transfer.
Conclusions:
- Organically functionalized SiQDs can be synthesized with controlled size and properties.
- The observed photoinduced electron transfer in ferrocene-functionalized SiQDs opens possibilities for photoresponsive electronic devices.
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