Silicon nanoparticle is a promising material for electronic devices, photovoltaics, and biological applications. Here, we synthesize silicon nanoparticles via CO2 laser pyrolysis and study the hydrogen flow effects on the characteristics of silicon nanoparticles using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometry. In CO2 laser pyrolysis, used to synthesize the silicon nanoparticles, the wavelength of the CO2 laser matches the absorption cross section of silane. Silane absorbs the CO2 laser energy at a wavelength of 10.6μm. Therefore, the laser excites silane, dissociating it to Si radical. Finally, nucleation and growth of the Si radicals generates various silicon nanoparticle. In addition, researchers can introduce hydrogen gas into silane to control the characteristics of silicon nanoparticles. Changing the hydrogen flow rate affects the nanoparticle size and crystallinity of silicon nanoparticles. Specifically, a high hydrogen flow rate produces small silicon nanoparticles and induces low crystallinity. We attribute these characteristics to the low density of the Si precursor, high hydrogen passivation probability on the surface of the silicon nanoparticles, and low reaction temperature during the synthesis.

Laser pyrolysis is a very suitable method for the synthesis of a wide range of nanoparticles. A pilot unit based on this process has been recently developed at CEA. This paper reports results showing the possibility to produce SiC and nanoparticles at rates of respectively 1 and 0.2 kg/h and also the possibility to adjust the mean grain size of the particles and their structure by changing the laser intensity and reactants flow rates. First tests of liquid recovery have been also successfully performed to limit the risks of nanoparticles dissemination in the environement during their recovery.