Processes of Efficient Visible Light Emission In Silicon Nanostructures.
Abstract
Recent observations of efficient visible light emission from porous and nanostructured silicon are intriguing as they give us hope for the eventual realization of silicon based electroluminescent devices. These results are also quite unexpected, as bulk silicon is a poor light emitting material. Attempts to understand the mechanisms of this light emission have focused on quantum confined silicon crystallites, luminescent surface molecular compounds, disordered silicon surfaces, and luminescent oxide related defects. The purpose of this thesis is to further our understanding of the light emission processes in nanoscale silicon structures like porous silicon. I present the results of theoretical and experimental investigations and show that crystallinity is not required for efficient light emission from silicon, that quantum confined states in silicon may be observable by electroabsorption spectroscopy, and that redeposition of luminescent surface compounds onto the surface of porous silicon may occur during etching.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA308931
Entities
People
- Michael J. Estes
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology