Even with intensive research, air-stable blue light emission from
silicon nanocrystals (Si-ncs) at room temperature still remains a challenge.
We show that stable and blue-luminescent Si-ncs can be produced by lasergenerated
plasma (nanosecond-pulsed excimer laser) confined in water.
These Si-ncs exhibit quantum confinement effect due to their size and are
produced with an environmentally compatible process. The effect of aging
for several weeks in water and air on blue Si-ncs emission properties is
compared. The oxide shell around the nanocrystalline core formed during
laser processing in water offers the required conditions for the confinement
of excitons that allow for stable (in either air or water) blue
photoluminescence at room temperature.
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