Functionalized silicon

Abstract

The process of bi-functionalizing silicon nanoparticles and bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticles are described. The processes include applying shear forces to silicon metal in the presence of an alkane, thereby providing an alkyl-hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticle, which is then treated with a reactant, e.g., a compound that reacts with the hydride functionality, to provide the bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticles. The resulting product can include a plurality of functionalities on a silicon nanoparticle derived from alkenes, alkynes, aldehydes, alcohols, thiols, amines, carboxylates, and/or carboxylic acids.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A process comprising:
 admixing a hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticle with a reagent, the hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticle having silicon-hydride features on a silicon surface;   wherein the reagent reacts adds to the silicon surface.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticle is an alky-hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticle having hydride and alkyl surface features derived from an alkane. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticle is an alky-hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticle;
 the alky-hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticle includes a silicon nanoparticulate having a composition of silicon or a silicon alloy, and having a plurality of surfaces, each surface comprising silicon atoms covalently affixed to hydride and alkyl or heteroalkyl functionalities derived from an alkane or heteroalkane.   
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the reagent covalently binds to the silicon surface. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the reagent is selected from an alkene, an alkyne, an aldehyde, and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the addition of the alkene yields an alkyl-functionality on the silicon nanoparticle. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the addition of the alkyne yields an alkenyl-functionality on the silicon nanoparticle. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the addition of the aldehyde yields an alkoxy-functionality on the silicon nanoparticle. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the reagent is selected from an alcohol, a thiol, an amine, a carboxylate, a carboxylic acid, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A product made by the process of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A process comprising:
 shearing a silicon metal or alloy in the presence of a liquid alkane and/or liquid hetero-alkane by applying shear forces to the silicon metal to expose a sheared silicon surface,   forming alkyl and hydride functionalizations on the sheared silicon surface; and   continuing to shear the silicon metal or alloy in the presence of the alkane and/or hetero-alkane until the silicon metal is reduced to alkyl-hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticles; thereafter   admixing the alkyl-hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticles with a reagent;   where the reagent adds to the alkyl-hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticles and provides a plurality of bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticles.   
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the liquid alkane and/or liquid hetero-alkane is removed from the admixture of the alkyl-hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticles and reagent. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the liquid alkane and/or liquid hetero-alkane is removed from the alkyl-hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticles; and thereafter the reagent is admixed with the alkyl-hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticles. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the reagent is selected from an alkene, an alkyne, an aldehyde, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the reagent is an alkene and the bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticles are bis-alkyl-functionalized silicon nanoparticles. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the reagent is an alkyne and the bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticles are alkyl-alkenyl-functionalized silicon nanoparticles. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the reagent is an aldehyde and the bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticles are alkyl-alkoxyl-functionalized silicon nanoparticles. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the alkyl-hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticles have an alkyl-hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticle ζ-potential; wherein the bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticles have a bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticle ζ-potential; and wherein the absolute value of the bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticle ζ-potential is at least about 5 mV greater than the absolute value of the alkyl-hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticle ζ-potential. 
     
     
         19 . A product made by the process of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         20 . Bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticles comprising:
 silicon nanoparticulates composed of silicon or a silicon alloy, the silicon nanoparticulates having a plurality of surfaces; the surfaces comprising silicon atoms;   the silicon atoms carrying an alkyl or heteroalkyl functionality derived from an alkane or heteroalkane, and a second functionality.   
     
     
         21 . The bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticles of  claim 20 , wherein the second functionality is derived from the alkene and the bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticles are bis-alkyl-functionalized. 
     
     
         22 . The bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticles of  claim 20 , wherein the second functionality is derived from the alkyne and the bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticles are alkyl-alkenyl-functionalized. 
     
     
         23 . The bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticles of  claim 20 , wherein the second functionality is derived from the aldehyde and the bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticles are alkyl-alkoxyl-functionalized.