Using electrochemical etching of a polycrystalline 3$C$-SiC target and subsequent ultrasonic treatment in water solution, we have fabricated suspensions of 3$C$-SiC nanocrystallites that luminesce. Transmission electron microscope observations show that the 3$C$-SiC nanocrystallites, which uniformly disperse in water, have sizes in the range of 1–6 nm. Photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation spectral examinations show clear evidence for the quantum confinement of 3$C$-SiC nanocrystallites with the emission band maximum ranging from 440 to 560 nm. Tunable, composite polystyrene/SiC film can be made by adding polystyrene to a toluene suspension of the 3$C$-SiC nanocrystallites and then coating the resulting solution onto a Si wafer.

• Received 15 July 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.026102