Issue 11, 2008
From the journal:

Analyst

Dispersions of alkyl-capped silicon nanocrystals in aqueous media: photoluminescence and ageing†

F. M. Dickinson,a   T. A. Alsop,a   N. Al-Sharif,b   C. E. M. Berger,b   H. K. Datta,b   L. Šiller,c   Y. Chao,a   E. M. Tuite,a   A. Houltona  and  B. R. Horrocksa  

a School of Natural Sciences, Bedson Building, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
E-mail: b.r.horrocks@ncl.ac.uk

b School of Clinical and Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

c School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Herschel Building, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Abstract

Alkyl-capped silicon nanocrystals can be dispersed in aqueous media by shaking or stirring their solutions in organic solvents (DMSO, ether, THF) with excess water. THF is the most straightforward choice with which to prepare stable aqueous dispersions, because the nanocrystals are very soluble in THF and it is also miscible with water. As little as 0.01% v/v tetrahydrofuran is sufficient. DMSO and ether were the preferred choices for subsequent staining of live cells because THF shows some acute toxicity even when very dilute. The luminescence intensity of the aqueous dispersions is linear in particle concentration and independent of pH over the range 5–9. The sols retain their photoluminescence and are stable against flocculation for at least 6 months.

Graphical abstract: Dispersions of alkyl-capped silicon nanocrystals in aqueous media: photoluminescence and ageing

About
Cited by
Related
Download options Please wait...

Supplementary files

Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/B801921E
Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 Feb 2008
Accepted
13 Jun 2008
First published
05 Aug 2008

Analyst, 2008,133, 1573-1580

Permissions

Request permissions

Dispersions of alkyl-capped silicon nanocrystals in aqueous media: photoluminescence and ageing

F. M. Dickinson, T. A. Alsop, N. Al-Sharif, C. E. M. Berger, H. K. Datta, L. Šiller, Y. Chao, E. M. Tuite, A. Houlton and B. R. Horrocks, Analyst, 2008, 133, 1573 DOI: 10.1039/B801921E

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements