Friend or foe: unraveling the SiO evolution reaction Jonathan Veinot Dept of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G2G2
Silicon and silica-based materials are ubiquitous in 21 st century technology. Whether as nanoparticles or integrated circuits, these systems are essential to a wide array of modern semiconductor applications; they also form the basis for a many other future uses ranging from battery anodes to luminescent solar concentrators to metamaterials. As such, developing and understanding preparative methods affording well-defined materials is essential if these systems are to realize their full potential. While the Si-SiO 2 interface is often presumed to be stable, the Veinot group recently encountered a previously overlooked/under appreciated reaction while exploring a widely employed silicon nanoparticle preparation. At high temperatures, silica can be reduced by silicon, resulting in the evolution of silicon monoxide (SiO) gas. Under appropriate conditions, this competing reaction eliminates all silicon nanoparticles from the synthesis. To better understand and exploit this reaction, we investigated the SiO evolution reaction and its impact on silicon nanoparticle synthesis. As our understanding of silicon monoxide improved, we were inspired to explore this reaction as a new pathway for Si-SiO 2 interface manipulation. This presentation will outline the insights gained during our studies and outline the challenges and opportunities presented by the silicon monoxide evolution in the context of Si nanomaterial design and preparation.
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