Methods of Ligand Exchange on Surfaces Comprising Silicon And/or Germanium

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This patent discloses a one-step, catalyst-assisted method for replacing the surface ligands on silicon and/or germanium materials (including nanoparticles and wafers). Using a catalyst—typically a Lewis acid such as aluminum chloride—native ligands (like long-chain amines) on the surface can be exchanged for user-selected new ligands (e.g., thiols, alkenes, or alkynes) without pre-activation steps. This direct ligand exchange can be carried out at mild conditions, such as room temperature, and is effective for both amorphous and crystalline forms of Si and Ge.

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• Fabrication of silicon or germanium nanoparticles with tailored surface chemistry for electronics or photonics.
• Production of functionalized semiconductor surfaces for sensors or optoelectronic devices.
• Preparation of surface-modified nanoparticles for use in batteries, especially as anodes in Li-ion or Na-ion batteries.
• Improvement of nanomaterial dispersibility or compatibility in different solvents for manufacturing inks, coatings, or composites.
• Design of bioimaging agents or drug delivery vehicles where surface ligands enable targeting or biocompatibility.
• Efficient manufacture of passivated nanostructures for photovoltaic cells or light-emitting devices.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables direct, catalyst-driven exchange of surface ligands without requiring surface activation or harsh chemical treatments.
• Works at low (near room) temperature and in a wide range of solvents, increasing compatibility with sensitive materials.
• Broadly applicable to various particle morphologies and sizes, as well as both amorphous and crystalline Si/Ge.
• Allows for high-efficiency ligand replacement (often >70%, sometimes >95%), leading to well-defined surface chemistry.
• Simplifies and accelerates the modification of semiconductor nanomaterials, facilitating rapid prototyping and manufacturing.
• Yields robust materials with little change in particle structure, improving reliability for downstream applications.

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Patent Abstract

A method for ligand exchange, the method comprising: providing a surface comprising a first ligand, wherein the surface comprises germanium, silicon, or a combination thereof; subjecting the surface comprising the first ligand to a catalyst in the presence of a second ligand that is different from the first ligand; and exchanging the first ligand for the second ligand.