Silicon quantum dots: chemical, physical synthesis, and applications in fluorescence detection, solar cell, photocatalyst and composite

Abstract

: Silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) with the unique properties in light, electricity, magnetism and heat possess the advantages of non-toxic, environmental protection and abundant reserves. They are widely used in various fields and have great potential for development. Till now, numerous researchers have reported the research progress of Si QDs, or elaborated the behavior mechanism. However, there are few summarization and comparison on the properties of quantum dot properties in different fields and different preparation methods. Besides, the parameters of Si QDs vary greatly in different application fields, which is worthy of comparison and summary. During the current work, we review the research progress and synthesis methods in recent years. The main influencing factors of Si QDs of different preparation methods (physical and chemical) and different application properties (fluorescence detection, solar cell, photocatalyst and composite) are compared and discussed in detail. Therefore, this paper aims to find promising preparation methods for different application fields, and to provide a clear direction for researchers to study Si QDs in different directions.