"Nanotechnology and nanomaterials"

Silicon-carbon hybrid nanoparticles for sensing applications

Mussabek G.1,2, Zhylkybayeva N.1,2, Baktygerey S.1,2, 
Yermukhamed D.1,2, Taurbayev Ye.1,2, Sadykov G.1, Zaderko A.N.3, Lisnyak V.V.1,3
1 Institute of Information and Computational Technologies, Pushkina Str., 125, 050010 Almaty, Kazakhstan. 
2 Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, al-Farabi Ave., 71, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan
3 Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Volodymyrska Str., 64/13, 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine. E-mail: lisnyak@univ.kiev.ua
Preparing advanced silicon nanomaterials (Si NMs) with given properties is the main task of fundamental and applied research. To date, nanostructured Si is used in modern optoelectronics and sensors. The nanostructured Si exhibits developed inner surface, variable surface chemical composition, and moderate chemical reactivity. The sensitive layer of Si NMs can be adjusted with adatoms and dopants in order to change adsorptive properties using chemical modification. This regulation is a promising method for the creation of advanced optoelectronics and organic vapor sensors. Besides, the modification of nanosilicon can stimulate the development of cardinal ways in the creation and integration of Si NMs in many devices and processes in the form of hybrids and composites. Here we report O, C-containing silicon nanoparticles ((O, C)-Si NPs) synthesized by the one-step method. In this work, the O, C-Si NPs were studied with TEM. Hybrid structures of (O, C)-Si NPs were produced after annealing of aged thermally oxidized Si NPs coated by carbon nanostructures (CNs). The surface chemistry was studied by different methods, and carboxyl and phenol groups were found. The room temperature electrical characteristics of sensors with and without NH3 gas were measured in the cell. The results showed that the nature, specific surface area of (O, C)-Si NPs, and morphological structure of the CNs and Si NPs strongly affected the electrophysical characteristics. An enhancement in sensitivity, response, and recovery times of a gas sensor based on a hybrid structure was successfully realized due to the specific structure of the hybrid.
This work was supported by the AP08856579 grant of the MESU of the Republic of Kazakhstan.