Method for the Production of Silicon Nanoparticles

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This patent describes a method for producing silicon nanoparticles by hydrolysing a chlorosilane with at least one silicon-silicon (Si-Si) bond, drying the resulting hydrolysate, and then decomposing the intermediate to obtain silicon nanoparticles. The process uses relatively mild conditions and can make use of chlorosilane by-products from industrial processes, resulting in silicon nanoparticles either free or embedded in a chemical matrix. The invention also encompasses composite materials containing both silicon nanoparticles and matrices, which can be separated if desired.

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• Material for high-capacity anodes in lithium-ion batteries
• Production of silicon-based quantum dots for optoelectronic devices (LEDs, lasers, sensors)
• Use in medical applications as nanocarriers or transporters for drugs, including crossing the blood-brain barrier
• Diagnostic and therapeutic tools in biomedicine involving photoluminescent or electroluminescent nanoparticles
• Sensors based on changes in luminescent properties of silicon nanoparticles
• Photovoltaic devices leveraging size-tunable optical properties of silicon quantum dots

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Simpler and milder synthesis conditions compared to traditional methods, using lower temperatures and standard pressure, often in air
• Ability to use industrial chlorosilane by-products, reducing waste and costs
• Yields very small (sub-10 nm) silicon nanoparticles, critical for advanced applications
• Avoids the need for hazardous or complex precursor materials (e.g., hydrogen-rich polysiloxanes, carbon spheres)
• Scalable for industrial use due to availability of starting materials and straightforward synthesis steps
• Enables the creation of composites or extraction of pure nanoparticles, allowing customization for different end uses
• Resulting silicon nanoparticles exhibit useful photoluminescence and electroluminescence, enabling multiple advanced technology applications

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing silicon nanoparticles. The method comprises the following steps: (a) providing a chlorosilane, the chlorosilane having at least one Si-Si moiety; (b) hydrolysing the chlorosilane to form a hydrolysate; (c) drying the hydrolysate to form an intermediate product; and (d) decomposing the intermediate product to form silicon nanoparticles.