Characterization of Mechanochemical Modification of Porous Silicon with Arginine

Mechanochemistry initiated the reaction of hydrogen-terminated porous silicon (H/por-Si) powder with arginine. Samples were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Arginine, which was physisorbed onto the surface of por-Si, blue-shifted the peak PL intensity from similar to 630 nm for the H/por-Si to similar to 565 nm for arginine-coated por-Si. Grinding for 4 h reduced >80% of the initially 2-45 mu m particles to <500 nm, but was observed to quench the PL. With appropriate rinsing and centrifugation, particles in the 100 nm range were isolated. Rinsing ground powder with water was required to remove the unreacted arginine. Without rinsing, excess arginine induced the aggregation of passivated particles. However, water reacted with the freshly ground por-Si powder producing H-2. A zeta potential of +42 mV was measured for arginine-terminated por-Si particles dispersed in deionized water. This positive value was consistent with termination such that NH2 groups extended away from the surface. Furthermore, this result was confirmed by FTIR spectra, which suggested that arginine was bound to silicon through the formation of a covalent Si-O bond.

Automated summary

Mechanochemistry was used to initiate the reaction between hydrogen-terminated porous silicon powder and arginine. The results showed that arginine was physisorbed onto the silicon surface, leading to a change in photoluminescence intensity. Grinding the powder resulted in particles in the 100 nm range, but quenched the photoluminescence. Rinsing with water was necessary to remove excess arginine and prevent particle aggregation. The arginine modification resulted in a positively charged silicon surface.