Solid-state synthesis of luminescent silicon nitride nanocrystals

Silicon nitride nanocrystals (NCs) have been prepared via in situ nitridation of magnesium followed by a metathesis reaction with sol-gel derived silica particles. Highly luminescent, freestanding beta-Si3N4 NCs with complex surface chemistry dominated by Si-H and N-H moieties were isolated upon etching with hydrofluoric acid.