Interaction between water molecules and 3C-SiC nanocrystal surface

Abstract

The influence of water permeates almost all areas including biochemistry, chemistry, physics and is particularly evident in phenomena occurring at the interfaces of solid surface such as SiC nanocrystals, which are promising nanomaterials and exhibit unique surface chemical properties. In this paper, the quantum confinement effect and stability of 3C-SiC nanocrystals in aqueous solution as well as photoluminescence properties in water suspensions with different pH values are reviewed based on design and analysis of surface structures. On this basis, the significant progress of 3C-SiC nanocrystals in efficiently splitting water into usable hydrogen is summarized and the relative mechanisms are described. In addition, the water-soluble 3C-SiC quantum dots as robust and nontoxic biological probes and labels also are introduced as well as future prospects given.