Synthesis of Silicon Nanoclusters by Solid-Gas Reaction

Silicon nanoparticles have been prepared by many methods, depending on whether porous, amorphous, or crystalline silicon is required. The advantages of the novel solid–gas chemical reaction reported here are that large amounts can be produced in a convenient way, the particles have a very narrow size range, and there is enormous potential for modification of the size and surface of the particles. Details of the synthesis via reaction of lanthanum or LaCl3 with a gaseous mixture of silicon tetrachloride and hydrogen, together with the subsequent characterization of the product, are presented.