Silicene, the silicon counterpart of graphene, has opened new possibilities for silicon based two-dimensional nanomaterials for electronic applications such as high-performance field effect transistors (FET) [1]. Like graphene, silicene has zero band gap, however the opening and tuning of a band gap is possible by means of physical strain, as well as hydrogenation and surface functionalization that is facilitated by its buckled hexagonal structure [2]. This band gap control allows tuning of both electronic and optical properties. To date, very few studies have explored the luminescent properties of this new material, and the origin of its light emission is still not clear [2,3]. Here, for the first time, we explore the time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) of hydrogenated and dodecene-functionalized silicene using time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) with a time resolution of 50 ps. A green emission is observed, and the preliminary TRPL results show fast radiative lifetimes in the nanosecond and sub-nanosecond range. The complex behaviour of the TRPL, which follows a combination of stretched exponential and power law decays, can also provide information on possible recombination pathways responsible for the light emission dynamics. [1] Quhe, R. et al. “Tunable and sizable band gap in silicene by surface adsorption”. Scientific Reports 2, Article number: 853 (2012) [2] Helbich, T. et al. “Radical-Induced Hydrosilation Reactions for the Functionalization of Two-Dimensional Hydride Terminated Silicon Nanosheets.” Chem. Eur. J. 10.1002/chem.201505134 (2015) [3] Kim, U. et al. “Synthesis of Si Nanosheets by a Chemical Vapor Deposition Process and Their Blue Emissions.” ACS Nano 5, 3, 2176-2181 (2011)     «

Silicene, the silicon counterpart of graphene, has opened new possibilities for silicon based two-dimensional nanomaterials for electronic applications such as high-performance field effect transistors (FET) [1]. Like graphene, silicene has zero band gap, however the opening and tuning of a band gap is possible by means of physical strain, as well as hydrogenation and surface functionalization that is facilitated by its buckled hexagonal structure [2]. This band gap control allows tuning of both...     »