Highly luminescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are synthesized at room temperature by hydride reduction of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) within inverse micelles. Regulation of the average diameter of the allylamine terminated CQDs is achieved by varying the strength of the reducing agent used. Transmission electron microscopy shows that the NCs are highly crystalline with well-defined core diameters tuned from 2 to 6 nm, while FTIR and XPS spectroscopy confirm that the CQDs possess similar surface chemistry. UV-Vis and PL spectroscopy show significant quantum confinement effects, with moderate absorption in the UV spectral range, and a strong, narrow luminescence in the visible with a marked dependency on excitation wavelength. Time resolved photoluminescence measurements showed lifetimes for all CQDs in the ns range, while a maximum PL quantum yield of 27% is observed for the CQDs

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Alkyl‐terminated silicon nanocrystals (Si NCs) are synthesized at room temperature by hydride reduction of silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) within inverse micelles. Highly monodisperse Si nanocrystals with average diameters ranging from 2 to 6 nm are produced by variation of the cationic quaternary ammonium salts used to form the inverse micelles. Transmission electron microscopy imaging shows that the NCs are highly crystalline, while FTIR spectra confirm that the NCs are passivated by covalent attachment of alkanes, with minimal surface oxidation. UV‐vis absorbance and photoluminescence spectroscopy show significant quantum confinement effects, with moderate absorption in the UV spectral range, and a strong blue emission with a marked dependency on excitation wavelength. The photoluminescence quantum yield (Φ) of the Si NCs exhibits an inverse relationship with the mean NC diameter, with a maximum of 12% recorded for 2 nm NCs.

Highly luminescent water soluble carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with narrow size distributions have been prepared via a simple room temperature, solution-phase synthesis. The CQDs, stabilised by covalently bound allylamine ligands to minimise surface oxidation, exhibit an excitation wavelength dependent blue luminescence with a quantum yield of 25%

A sacrificial polymer templating, simple chemical etching and AACVD is described for the fabrication of robust, large area 3D inverse opals patterned with silicon nanocrystals.