Dehydrocoupling – an alternative approach to functionalizing germanium nanoparticle surfaces

Surface functionalization is an essential aspect of nanoparticle design and preparation; it can impart stability, processability, functionality, as well as tailor optoelectronic properties that facilitate future applications. Herein we report a new approach toward modifying germanium nanoparticle (GeNP) surfaces and for the first time tether alkyl chains to the NP surfaces through Si-Ge bonds. This was achieved via heteronuclear dehydrocoupling reactions involving alkylsilanes and Ge-H moieties on the NP surfaces. The resulting solution processable RR'2Si-GeNPs (R = octadecyl or PDMS; R' = H or CH3) were characterized using FTIR, Raman, 1H-NMR, XRD, TEM, HAADF, and EELS and were found to retain the crystallinity of the parent GeNP platform.