Preparation of small silicon carbide quantum dots by wet chemical etching

• Published in: Journal of materials research Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 44 - 49
• Main Authors: Beke, David, Szekrényes, Zsolt, Balogh, István, Czigány, Zsolt, Kamarás, Katalin, Gali, Adam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 14-01-2013; Springer International Publishing; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acids; Applied and Technical Physics; Biomarkers; Biomaterials; Cadmium selenide; Etching; Fourier transforms; Heat resistance; Inorganic Chemistry; Materials Engineering; Materials research; Materials Science; Microelectromechanical systems; Nanocrystals; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Open systems; Quantum dots; Silicon carbide; Spectrum analysis; Studies; Toxicity
• ISSN: 0884-2914; 2044-5326
• DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2012.223

Fabrication of nanosized silicon carbide (SiC) crystals is a crucial step in many biomedical applications. Here we report an effective fabrication method of SiC nanocrystals based on simple electroless wet chemical etching of crystalline cubic SiC. Comparing an open reaction system with a closed reaction chamber, we found that the latter produces smaller nanoparticles (less than 8 nm diameter) with higher yield. Our samples show strong violet-blue emission in the 410–450 nm region depending on the solvents used and the size. Infrared measurements unraveled that the surface of the fabricated nanoparticles is rich in oxidized carbon. This may open an opportunity to use standard chemistry methods for further biological functionalization of such nanoparticles.