Method for photolytic liquid phase synthesis of silicon and germanium nanocrystalline materials
First Claim
1. A method for producing silicon or germanium particles, said method comprising:
- sealing an organometallic precursor of the formula, (M1)RR'"'"'R"R'"'"'", wherein R, R'"'"', R", and R'"'"'" are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyls containing less than 13 carbon atoms, monounsaturated alkenyls containing less than 9 carbon atoms, alkynyls containing less than 9 carbon atoms and aromatics containing less than 20 carbon atoms, and M1 is selected from the group consisting of silicon and germanium under an inert atmosphere within a reaction vessel transmissive to a photolysis wavelength;
adding a liquid solvent transmissive to said photolysis wavelength to said reaction vessel, said solvent having a molecular structure, the structure being free of oxygen; and
exposing said reaction vessel to a light source, wherein said light source produces sufficient flux of said photolysis wavelength to photolyze said precursor within said reaction vessel to form a M1 --M1 bond; and
maintaining a kinetically stable population of M1 -comprising radicals with the light source flux, said population reacting with said M3 --M1 bond to form one of said particles.
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Abstract
A method is described for the liquid phase synthesis of particles. The particles are composed of silicon or germanium and are optionally produced at sizes such that the particles exhibit quantum size effects. The particles are produced from an organometallic (tetra-organosilicon or tetra-organogermanium) precursors which is dissolved in a solvent that transmits a wavelength of light that photolyzes the precursor. The reaction is carried out under an inert atmosphere. A passivating agent is added to arrest particle growth and impart solubility to the particle. Optionally, a dopant is incorporated into the particle in the course of production so as to modify the electronic properties of the semiconductor particle.
65 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for producing silicon or germanium particles, said method comprising:
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sealing an organometallic precursor of the formula, (M1)RR'"'"'R"R'"'"'", wherein R, R'"'"', R", and R'"'"'" are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyls containing less than 13 carbon atoms, monounsaturated alkenyls containing less than 9 carbon atoms, alkynyls containing less than 9 carbon atoms and aromatics containing less than 20 carbon atoms, and M1 is selected from the group consisting of silicon and germanium under an inert atmosphere within a reaction vessel transmissive to a photolysis wavelength; adding a liquid solvent transmissive to said photolysis wavelength to said reaction vessel, said solvent having a molecular structure, the structure being free of oxygen; and exposing said reaction vessel to a light source, wherein said light source produces sufficient flux of said photolysis wavelength to photolyze said precursor within said reaction vessel to form a M1 --M1 bond; and maintaining a kinetically stable population of M1 -comprising radicals with the light source flux, said population reacting with said M3 --M1 bond to form one of said particles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for producing silicon or germanium particles, said method comprising:
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sealing an organometallic precursor of the formula, (M2)RR'"'"'R"R'"'"'", wherein R, R'"'"', R", and R'"'"'"are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyls containing less than 13 carbon atoms, monounsaturated alkenyls containing less than 9 carbon atoms, alkynyls containing less than 9 carbon atoms and aromatics containing less than 20 carbon atoms, and M1 is selected from the group consisting of silicon and germanium under an inert atmosphere within a reaction vessel transmissive to a photolysis wavelength; adding a liquid solvent transmissive to said photolysis wavelength to said reaction vessel; exposing said reaction vessel to a light source that produces said photolysis wavelength to yield said particles; and adding a dopant precursor having a dopant atom therein to said reaction vessel such that the dopant atom is incorporated into said particles. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for producing silicon or germanium particles, said method comprising:
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sealing an organometallic precursor of the formula, (M1)RR'"'"'R"R'"'"'", wherein R, R'"'"', R", and R'"'"'" are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyls containing less than 13 carbon atoms, monounsaturated alkenyls containing less than 9 carbon atoms, alkynyls containing less than 9 carbon atoms and aromatics containing less than 20 carbon atoms, and M1 is selected from the group consisting of silicon and germanium under an inert atmosphere of about one atmosphere or less, within a reaction vessel capable of transmitting a photolysis wavelength; adding a liquid solvent capable of transmitting said photolysis wavelength to said reaction vessel; exposing said reaction vessel to a light source that produces said photolysis wavelength; and adding a passivating agent to arrest changes in particle diameter of said particles. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification