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Classification and control of the origin of photoluminescence from Si nanocrystals

Abstract

Silicon dominates the electronics industry, but its poor optical properties mean that III–V compound semiconductors are preferred for photonics applications. Photoluminescence at visible wavelengths was observed from porous Si at room temperature in 1990, but the origin of these photons (do they arise from highly localized defect states or quantum confinement effects?) has been the subject of intense debate ever since. Attention has subsequently shifted from porous Si to Si nanocrystals, but the same fundamental question about the origin of the photoluminescence has remained. Here we show, based on measurements in high magnetic fields, that defects are the dominant source of light from Si nanocrystals. Moreover, we show that it is possible to control the origin of the photoluminescence in a single sample: passivation with hydrogen removes the defects, resulting in photoluminescence from quantum-confined states, but subsequent ultraviolet illumination reintroduces the defects, making them the origin of the light again.

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Figure 1: Imaging of Si nanoparticles by HRTEM.
Figure 2: Room-temperature PL spectra.
Figure 3: ESR spectra at 4.2 K
Figure 4: Band structure and competing PL mechanisms for Si nanocrystals embedded in SiO2.
Figure 5: Shift of the centre of mass of the PL peak (ΔECM) as a function of magnetic field at 85 K.
Figure 6: Effect of UV irradiation on a passivated sample.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the SANDiE Network of Excellence of the European Commission (NMP-CT-2004-500101), the Belgian Inter-University Attraction Pole, Flemish Geconcerteerde Onderzoeksacties and Fonds voor Wetenschappelijke Onderzoek programmes and project ZA191/14-3 of the German Research Foundation (DFG). M.H. is an Academic Fellow of the Research Councils UK.

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Godefroo, S., Hayne, M., Jivanescu, M. et al. Classification and control of the origin of photoluminescence from Si nanocrystals. Nature Nanotech 3, 174–178 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2008.7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2008.7

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