Synthesis of silicon nanoclusters by solid-gas reaction

Silicon nanoparticles have been prepared by many methods, depending on whet her porous, amorphous, or crystalline silicon is required. The advantages o f the novel solid-gas chemical reaction reported here are that large amount s can be produced in a convenient way, the particles have a very narrow siz e range, and there is enormous potential for modification of the size and s urface of the particles. Details of the synthesis via reaction of lanthanum or LaCl3 with a gaseous mixture of silicon tetrachloride and hydrogen, tog ether with the subsequent characterization of the product, are presented.