Alkyl-terminated crystalline Ge nanoparticles prepared from NaGe: Synthesis, functionalization and optical properties

• Published in: Journal of solid state chemistry 2008-07, Vol.181 (7), p.1628-1633
• Main Authors: Ma, Xuchu, Wu, Fengyi, Kauzlarich, Susan M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: FOURIER TRANSFORMATION; Functionalization; Ge nanoparticles; GERMANIUM; INFRARED SPECTRA; INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; NANOSTRUCTURES; OPTICAL PROPERTIES; PARTICLES; PHOTOLUMINESCENCE; RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY; SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; SODIUM HYDRIDES; SYNTHESIS; TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; X RADIATION; X-RAY DIFFRACTION; Zintl salt NaGe
• ISSN: 0022-4596; 1095-726X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jssc.2008.06.018

High purity NaGe was directly prepared by a low-temperature reaction of NaH and Ge. The product was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. This material is a useful starting reagent for the preparation of Ge nanoparticles. Hydrogen-terminated germanium (Ge) nanoparticles were prepared by reaction of NaGe with NH 4Br. These Ge nanoparticles could be prepared as amorphous or crystalline nanoparticles in quantitative yields and with a narrow size distribution. The nanoparticles were functionalized via thermally initiated hydrogermylation with 1-eicosyne, CH 3(CH 2) 17C≡CH to produce alkyl-terminated Ge nanoparticles. The modified Ge nanoparticles were characterized by powder XRD, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The alkyl-functionalized Ge nanoparticles can be expected to have promising applications in many technological and biological areas. XRD pattern of crystalline Ge nanoparticles obtained by solid-state process and TEM image of alkyl-terminated crystalline Ge nanoparticles.