Dispersed freestanding silicon nanocrystals for Si white light-emitting diode

Abstract Freestanding silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) were prepared based on triethoxysilane (TES) by a series processes of chemistry and physics. To prevent self-aggregation, the freestanding SiNCs were mixed with 1‑dodecene and mesitylene, followed by addition reaction in argon. A dispersed freestanding SiNC colloid was thus attained. A Si white light-emitting diode was fabricated using the dispersed freestanding SiNCs by mixing them with hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) as the active layer. The electroluminescence emission of the device showed a continuous spectrum covering the whole visible regime in the white emission region of chromatic chart.