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

Nanocrystals are under active investigation because of their interesting size- dependent properties(1,2) and potential applications(3-5). Silicon nanocrystals have been studied for possible uses in optoelectronics(6), and may be relevant to the understanding of natural processes such as lightning strikes(7). Gas-phase methods can be used to prepare nanocrystals, and mass spectrometric techniques have been used to analyse Au-8,(9) and CdSe clusters(10). However, it is difficult to study nanocrystals by such methods unless they are synthesized in the gas phase(11). 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 degrees 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(12).

Iller, Lidija S. (författare)
Krishnamurthy, Satheesh (författare)
Coxon, Paul R. (författare)
Bangert, Ursel (författare)
Gass, Mhairi (författare)
Kjeldgaard, LisbethLund University,Lunds universitet,MAX IV-laboratoriet,MAX IV Laboratory(Swepub:lu)maxl-lkj (författare)
PatoleO, Samson N. (författare)
Lie, Lars H. (författare)
O'Farrell, Norah (författare)
Alsop, Thomas A. (författare)
Houlton, Andrew (författare)
Horrocks, Benjamin R. (författare)
Lunds universitetMAX IV-laboratoriet (creator_code:org_t)

Ingår i:Nature Nanotechnology: Springer Science and Business Media LLC2:8, s. 486-4891748-33951748-3387

Av författaren/redakt...: Chao, Yimin; Iller, Lidija S.; Krishnamurthy, S ...; Coxon, Paul R.; Bangert, Ursel; Gass, Mhairi; visa fler...; Kjeldgaard, Lisb ...; PatoleO, Samson ...; Lie, Lars H.; O'Farrell, Norah; Alsop, Thomas A.; Houlton, Andrew; Horrocks, Benjam ...; visa färre...

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