Luminescent silicon nanocrystals capped with naturally occurring ligands

Several naturally occurring terpenes, including limonene, valencene, eugenol, eugenol acetate, and linalool, have alkene functional groups that can add to a silicon (Si) surface by hydrosilylation. Here, we demonstrate their use as capping ligands for luminescent Si nanocrystals that can be dispersed in either polar or nonpolar solvents depending on the hydrophobicity of the ligand shell. The dispersions are stable for months. ¹H NMR spectra show that either of the two available alkene groups in limonene, linalool, and valencene will undergo hydrosilylation with the Si surface.