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Evaporation and deposition of alkyl-capped silicon nanocrystals in ultrahigh vacuum

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Yimin Chao, Professor Lidija Siller, Satheesh Krishnamurthy, Paul Coxon, Dr Samson Patole, Lars Lie, Dr Norah O'Farrell, Thomas Alsop, Professor Andrew HoultonORCiD, Dr Ben Horrocks

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Abstract

Nanocrystals are under active investigation because of their interesting size-dependent properties and potential applications. Silicon nanocrystals have been studied for possible uses in optoelectronics, and may be relevant to the understanding of natural processes such as lightning strikes. Gas-phase methods can be used to prepare nanocrystals, and mass spectrometric techniques have been used to analyse Au and CdSe clusters. However, it is difficult to study nanocrystals by such methods unless they are synthesized in the gas phase. In particular, pre-prepared nanocrystals are generally difficult to sublime without decomposition. Here we report the observation that films of alkyl-capped silicon nanocrystals evaporate upon heating in ultrahigh vacuum at 200°C, and the vapour of intact nanocrystals can be collected on a variety of solid substrates. This effect may be useful for the controlled preparation of new quantum-confined silicon structures and could facilitate their mass spectroscopic study and size-selection. © 2007 Nature Publishing Group.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Chao Y, Siller L, Krishnamurthy S, Coxon PR, Bangert U, Gass M, Kjeldgaard L, Patole SN, Lie LH, O'Farrell N, Alsop TA, Houlton A, Horrocks BR

Publication type: Letter

Publication status: Published

Journal: Nature Nanotechnology

Year: 2007

Volume: 2

Issue: 8

Pages: 486-489

ISSN (print): 1748-3387

ISSN (electronic): 1748-3395

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2007.224

DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2007.224

PubMed id: 18654345

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