With the discovery of the two-dimensional (2D) carbon based material graphene, a new door to the area of nano-based applied science has been opened. Following this example, scientists all over the world are aiming to find similar type of materials based on other elements [1] and materials. Regarding this, the synthesis of silicene[2] and its hydrogenated form silicane[3] was developed in this contribution. With the chemical exfoliation of calcium ions from the crystalline CaSi2 compound, nano-sized silicane can be liberated. As a result, free standing 2D silicon sheets (SiNSs) can be obtained, which show remarkable new properties. Some few examples are e.g., the green photoluminescence (PL), the ability of band gap opening and the semiconducting behavior of the material. To enable the use of these nanomaterials in ambient conditions and especially for facile and big scale fabrication, they need to be stabilized. The 2D-sheets can be destroyed by UV light and reaction with oxygen.[4] The stabilization of SiNSs can be reached with the help of covalent surface functionalization, which was already described in our previous works.[4][5] The lifetime of the silicon monolayers can thus be increased dramatically. Additionally, its fabrication is facilitated regarding the different material deposition techniques such as spray deposition, spin coating, or even highly precise, reproducible and ultra-low-cost inkjet printing technique. Within our group, we are aiming not only for an established way for a facile synthesis of SiNSs based hybrid materials, but also for the first steps towards (opto)electronic applications. A facile integration of the modified SiNSs into the already well-known fabrication methods could be developed and the first prototype of a highly sensitive photonic sensor is presented.[6] Additionally, we have fabricated a SiNSs based solution-gated field effect transistor and a humidity sensor, which show first steps towards response to surrounding molecules, light and temperature.     «

With the discovery of the two-dimensional (2D) carbon based material graphene, a new door to the area of nano-based applied science has been opened. Following this example, scientists all over the world are aiming to find similar type of materials based on other elements [1] and materials. Regarding this, the synthesis of silicene[2] and its hydrogenated form silicane[3] was developed in this contribution. With the chemical exfoliation of calcium ions from the crystalline CaSi2 compound, nano-si...     »