Red-, yellow- and green-luminescent silicon nanoparticles covered with ionic liquid AMImTFSI (1-Allyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide) are reported. Red luminescent silicon nanoparticles (Si-Red), yellow luminescent silicon nanoparticles (Si-Yellow) and green luminescent silicon nanoparticles (Si-Green) were prepared under the acid-etching process using hydrofluoric acid/nitric acid for 50 s, 75 s, and 90 s, respectively. Their surface protection using ionic liquid was carried out by the injection of bare silicon nanoparticles into AMImTFSI, resulting in formation of Si-Red-I, Si-Yellow-I and Si-Green-I. The Si-Red-I, Si-Yellow-I and Si-Green-I show effective luminescence after 17 days. In this study, luminescent silicon nanoparticles covered with ionic liquid are performed for the first time. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.