1 - Silicon-based hybrid nanoparticles: An introduction

Abstract

Silicon (Si) is the second most abundant element on Earth and is readily accessible. Moreover, it is potentially inexpensive, nontoxic, and eco-friendly. Si nanoparticles (NPs) demonstrate supremely effectual photoemission in the visible and near IR ranges. They have gained immense interest owing to their versatile applications in comparison to the bulk material, due to their physical and chemical properties like photostability (not only in aqueous medium but also in ambient air), high surface area, good biocompatibility, and tunable optical properties. Porous Si NPs have been known to be biodegradable as they are degraded easily into a nontoxic compound, orthosilicic acid. The low cytotoxicities of Si NPs are enticing even after the illumination of light. Nonetheless, as compared to lone Si NPs, hybrids with other semiconductors/metals/nonmetals/metal-oxides display superior properties and, hence, are important to be explored. Doping of Si NPs with different heteroatoms or metal ions can give rise to some new and appealing features. The Si-based hybrid materials have huge applications in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), drug delivery, sensing, photovoltaic applications, diodes, battery electrodes, and catalysis.