Papers by Keyword: Silicon Nanocrystals

Abstract: Anisotropic periodic relief in form of ripples was formed on surface of amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a-Si:H) films by femtosecond laser pulses with the wavelength of 1.25 μm. The orientation of the surface structures relative to laser radiation polarization vector depended on the number of laser pulses N acting on the film surface. When N = 30, the structures with 0.88 μm period were formed orthogonal to the laser radiation polarization; at N = 750 the surface structures had period of 1.12 μm and direction parallel to the polarization. The conductivity of the laser-modified a-Si:H films increased by 3 to 4 orders of magnitude, up to 3.8·10^–5 (Ω∙cm)^–1, due to formation of nanocrystalline Si phase with a volume fraction from 17 to 30%. Anisotropy of the dark conductivity, as well as anisotropy of the photoconductivity spectral dependences was observed in the modified films due to depolarizing influence of periodic microscale relief and uneven distribution of nanocrystalline Si phase within such laser-induced structure.

Abstract: We report the effects of exposure to alkylated silicon nanocrystals (‘alkyl-SiNCs’ at concentration ~ 7.2 mg/L) and -Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles coated with ultra-thin silica (‘SiO₂-coated IONPs’ at concentration ~ 150 mg/L) on sea urchins Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula, respectively, studied with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscpoies using excitation from a synchrotron light source. A remarkably low mortality and low incidence of skeletal deformation is observed for exposure to both types of nanoparticles studied, despite the high concentrations employed in this work. XRF mapping demonstrates that both types of nanoparticle are found to agglomerate in the body of the sea urchins. FTIR spectra indicates that alkyl-SiNCs remain intact after ingestion and corresponding XRF maps show increased an oxygen throughout the organisms, possibly related to oxidation products arising from reactive oxygen species generated in the presence of the nanoparticles. Exposure to SiO₂-coated IONPs is found to produce sulphur-containing species, which may be the result of a biological response in order to reduce the toxicity of the nanomaterial.

Abstract: Using the envelope-function approximation the electronic states and the optical gap of silicon nanocrystals heavily doped with phosphorus have been calculated. Assuming the uniform impurity distribution over the crystallite volume we have found the fine structure of the electron ground state (induced by the valley-orbit interaction) and the optical gap as a function of the crystallite size and donor concentration. It is shown that the energy of the ground singlet state decreases almost linearly as the concentration increases, while the valley-orbit splitting increases nonlinearly. Phosphorus doping also results in the decrease of the nanocrystal gap with increasing the impurity concentration.

Abstract: Silicon nanocrystals (Si NCs) are a promising candidate for the top cell of an all-Si tandem solar cell with a band gap from 1.3-1.7 eV, tuneable by adjusting NC size. They are readily produced within a Si-based dielectric matrix by precipitation from the Si excess in multilayers of alternating stoichiometric and silicon-rich layers. Here we examined the luminescence and transport of Si NCs embedded in SiC. We observed luminescence that redshifts from 2.0 to 1.5 eV with increasing nominal NC size. Upon further investigation, we found that this redshift is to a large extent due to Fabry-Pérot interference. Correction for this effect allows an analysis of the spectrum emitted from within the sample. We also produced p-i-n solar cells and found that the observed I-V curves under illumination could be well-fitted by typical thin-film solar cell models including finite series and parallel resistances, and a voltage-dependent current collection function. A minority carrier mobility-lifetime product on the order of 10^-10 cm²/V was deduced, and a maximum open-circuit voltage of 370 mV achieved.

Abstract: We present results of the study on the silicon nanoparticles formation in multilayer silicon nitride structures. These structures consist of pairs of stoichiometric silicon nitride dielectric layers (SiN_x) and silicon rich nitride layers (SRN). Silicon nanocrystals precipitate from the SRN layer during annealing at high temperatures (1000 °C or 1100 °C). High resolution transmission electron microscopy has been applied for investigation of the nanocrystals formation. Surface photovoltage spectroscopy technique was used for the spectral characterization of prepared structures

Abstract: Bulk silicon is the material for microelectronics fabrication such as memory device. However, its optical properties are poor due to its indirect band gap. Since the photoluminescence from porous silicon at room temperature was first reported by Canham, silicon nanostructures have attracted considerable interest due to their potential applications in optoelectronic devices such as Si-based LEDs, solar cell. In the present study, the nanocrystalline silicons were synthesized by non-thermal plasma from gas phase. And Nitrogen plasma was applied to reduce the nonraidative recombination center which related to the emission efficiency. To confirm the effect of nitrogen plasma, the compositional, electrical and optical analysis of silicon nanocryatals layer were also investigated.

Abstract: We report on the experimental and theoretical studies of population/depopulation dynamics of excitons in the structures with Si nanocrystals in SiO2 matrix (nc-Si/SiO2) under strong optical excitation. The experimental results are explained using a phenomenological model based on rate equations for coupled system of energy donors (excitons) and energy acceptors (erbium ions). Exciton luminescence is found to exhibit superlinear dependence for Er-doped samples. At the same time the Er-related luminescence at 1.5 μm shows a saturation of the intensity and shortening of the lifetime, which are attributed to the population inversion of the Er ions states. The obtained results demonstrate that nc-Si/SiO2:Er systems can be used for applications in Si-based optical amplifiers and lasers, compatible with planar Si-technology.

Abstract: Characterisation of three-layer dielectric embedded into MDS-structure (Metal- Dielectric-Silicon) was provided in the dark and under light illumination. In the dark, increasing of differential capacitance, simultaneously, with variation of differential conductivity of MDSstructures was detected. In the light strong changing of capacitance part of impedance was firstly observed, demonstrating decreasing almost to zero values and restoring up to maximal values in narrow bang of voltage applied. Variation of capacitance exceeds significantly so called dielectric layer capacitance, what interpreted as carriers exchanging between substrate and electronic states in SiNx probably due to three-layered kind of its nature.

Abstract: Nanocrystal memories are attractive candidate for the development of non volatile memory devices for deep submicron technologies. In a nanocrystal memory device, a 2D network of isolated nanocrystals is buried in the gate dielectric of a MOS and replaces the classical polysilicon layer used in floating gate (flash) memories. Recently, we have demonstrated a route to fabricate these devices at low cost by using ultra low energy ion implantation. Obviously, all the electrical characteristics of the device depend on the characteristics of the nanocrystal population (sizes and densities) but also on their exact location with respect to the gate and channel of the MOS transistor. It is the goal of this paper to report on the main materials science aspects of the fabrication of 2D arrays of Si nanocrystals in thin SiO2 layers and at tunable distances from their SiO2/interfaces.

Abstract: Silicon nanopowders were produced using electron-beam-induced evaporation of bulk silicon ingots in various gas atmosphere. Optical properties of the nanopowders were studied with the use of photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy techniques. Photoluminescence peaks in the visible region of the spectrum have been detected at room temperature in silicon nanopowders, produced in argon gas atmosphere. Strong short-wavelength shift of the photoluminescence peaks can be result of quantum confinement effect for electrons and holes in small silicon nanocrystals (down to 2 nm in diameter). The size of silicon nanocrystals was estimated from Raman spectroscopy data. The calculated in frame of effective mass model optical gaps for silicon nanocrystals of spherical shape are in good correlation with experimental photoluminescence data. The attempts of deposition of silicon nanocrystal films from the nanopowders on silicon substrates were carried out.