Plasma Synthesis and Surface Passivation of Silicon Quantum Dots with Photoluminescence Quantum Yields higher than 60%

Abstract

Silicon nanocrystals with diameters of less than 5 nm show efficient room temperature pho-toluminescence (PL). Previous reports of PL quantum yields for ensembles of silicon quantum dots have usually been in the few percent range, and generally less than 30%. Here we report the plasma synthesis of silicon quantum dots and their subsequent wet-chemical surface passivation with organic ligands while strictly excluding oxygen. Photoluminescence quantum yields as high as 62% have been achieved at peak wavelengths of about 789 nm.