Blue luminescent silicon nanocrystals prepared by short pulsed laser ablation in liquid media

The pulsed laser processing in liquid media is an attractive alternative to produce room temperature luminescent silicon nanocrystals (Si-ncs). We report on a blue luminescent Si-ncs preparation by using nanosecond pulsed laser (Nd:YAG, KrF excimer) processing in transparent polymer and water. The Si-ncs fabrication is assured by ablation of crystalline silicon target immersed in liquids. During the processing and following aging in liquids, oxide based liquid media, induce shell formation around fresh nanocrystals that provides a natural and stable form of surface passivation. The stable room temperature blue-photoluminescent Si-ncs are prepared with maxima located around ∼440 nm with corresponding optical band gap around ∼2.8 eV (∼430 nm). Due to the reduction of surface defects, the Si-ncs preparation in water, leads to a narrowing of full-width-half-maxima of the photoluminescence spectra.