Durability and photophysical properties of surfactant-covered porous silicon particles in aqueous suspensions

With the aim to impart hydrophilic properties to porous silicon (PSi) containing luminescent Si nanocrystals the PSi surface has been modified by a non-ionic surfactant (undecylenic acid) either physically (by physisorption) or chemically (through Si-C bond). PSi luminescence spectra and reversible quenching of the luminescence by molecular oxygen have been studied as a function of time elapsed after PSi surface immersion in water. The data obtained indicate that Si nanocrystal surface oxidation, which is realized in water, is accompanied by an appearance of a new type of luminescence centres, which are quenched by molecular oxygen differently than free excitons. SiO-related surface states are suggested to be responsible for the observed effect. (C) 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim