Luminescence nanothermometry with alkyl-capped Silicon nanoparticles dispersed in non-polar liquids

Silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs) with diameter size ranging from 4 to 8 nm exhibiting visible photoluminescence (PL) because of the quantum confinement effect were successfully fabricated. Chemical functionalization of these Si NPs with alk yl groups allowed them to be homogeneously dispersed in non- polar liquids (NPLs). In comparison to most of literature results for Si NPs an important PL peak position variation with temperature (almost 1meV/K) was obtained from 303K to 390 K. The influence of the liquid viscosity on pe ak positions is also presented. These variations are discussed considering energy tr ansfer between nanoparticles. The high PL thermal sensitivity of the alkyl-capped Si NPs allows proposing their application as nanothermometers.