Near-infrared luminescent cubic silicon carbide nanocrystals for in vivo biomarker applications: an ab initio study

Molecule-sized fluorescent emitters are much sought-after to probe biomolecules in living cells. We demonstrate here by time-dependent density functional calculations that the experimentally achievable 1-2 nm sized silicon carbide nanocrystals can emit light in the near-infrared region after introdu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nanoscale 2012-01, Vol.4 (24), p.772-7726
Main Authors: Somogyi, Bálint, Zólyomi, Viktor, Gali, Adam
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomarkers - metabolism
Carbon Compounds, Inorganic - chemistry
Humans
Nanoparticles - chemistry
Quantum Dots
Quantum Theory
Silicon Compounds - chemistry
Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
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Summary:Molecule-sized fluorescent emitters are much sought-after to probe biomolecules in living cells. We demonstrate here by time-dependent density functional calculations that the experimentally achievable 1-2 nm sized silicon carbide nanocrystals can emit light in the near-infrared region after introducing appropriate color centers in them. These near-infrared luminescent silicon carbide nanocrystals may act as ideal fluorophores for in vivo bioimaging. We demonstrate that 1-2 nm sized silicon carbide nanocrystals containing appropriate color centers can emit light in the near-infrared region.
ISSN:2040-3364
2040-3372
DOI:10.1039/c2nr32442c