Controlled synthesis and improved stability of SiC nanoparticles under varying conditions: combined experimental and theoretical bandgap engineering

Abstract

Silicon carbide nanoparticles (SiC NPs) were synthesized via pulsed Nd: YAG laser ablation of a SiC target in deionized water. With the effects of laser fluence, wavelength and ablation time, a 2.51-12.78 nm size range of nanoparticles was produced. This size range yields an energy gap of 4.74-3.19 eV. FTIR confirmed SiC formation through characteristic bands in the 400-900 cm(-)(1) region, coupled with Si-O-Si and O-H groups formed by partial surface oxidation, while XRD identified the crystalline 6H-SiC polytype. The most stable colloids were obtained at 1064 nm and 4.7 J/cm(2). EDS verified the presence of Si, C and O. The size-dependent band gap behavior aligned with quantum confinement theory. Overall, the study demonstrates that tuning laser parameters enables controlled synthesis and improved stability of SiC NPs for advanced nanomaterial applications.