Alkoxy-Terminated Si Surfaces: A New Reactive Platform for the Functionalization and Derivatization of Silicon Quantum Dots

Alkoxy-terminated silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) were synthesized via hydrosilylation of aliphatic ketones on hydride-terminated SiQD (H-SiQD) surfaces under microwave-irradiation. Aromatic ketones undergo hydrosilylation on H-SiQD surfaces at room temperature without requiring any catalyst. The alkoxy-terminated SiQDs are soluble in organic solvents, colloidally stable, and show bright and size dependent photoluminescence (PL). The alkoxy-functionalized silicon surfaces were used as reactive platform for further functionalization via unprecedented ligand exchange of the alkoxy-surface groups with alkyl or alkenyl-surface groups in the presence of BH3·THF. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectroscopy confirmed alkoxy-terminated surfaces and their ligand exchange reactions in the presence of various alkenes and alkynes.