Filling of single silicon nanocrystals within multiwalled carbon nanotubes

We demonstrate here a simple approach to introduce the ex situ synthesized silicon nanocrystals (Si-ncs) embedded in SiO2 based spin on glass (SOG) within multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. After opening the ends of MWNTs and declustering the Si-ncs dispersed in the SOG solution, it is possible to introduce them inside MWNTs channel through capillary effect. In this letter, we present the initial explorations of carrying the stabilized Si-ncs in SOG inside nanotubes far from their ends by capillary forces. The results here described have important implications to further expand the useability of Si-ncs/MWNTs and might find very important applications in optoelectronics. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.