Quantum size effects and tunable visible photoluminescence in a-Si:H/nc-Si:H superlattices

Yadav, Asha; Agarwal, Pratima; Biswas, Rana

doi:10.1007/s10854-019-00763-w

Quantum size effects and tunable visible photoluminescence in a-Si:H/nc-Si:H superlattices

Journal Article · Thu Jan 24 00:00:00 EST 2019 · Journal of Materials Science Materials in Electronics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-019-00763-w· OSTI ID:1502872

Yadav, Asha ^[1]; Agarwal, Pratima ^[1]; Biswas, Rana ^[2]

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati (India)
Ames Lab. and Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)

Quantum size effects are commonly observed in semiconductor nanocrystals and quantum dots. Here, we demonstrate unexpected quantum size effects in an unusual bulk system with multiple interfaces, consisting of alternating layers of nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) and amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) material thin films. The nc-Si:H layers consist of silicon nanocrystals embedded in an amorphous matrix, with an amorphous-crystalline interface separating the two structures. Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition was utilized to grow nanocrystalline-amorphous silicon superlattices with a varying thickness of the nanocrystalline layer. Strong visible photoluminescence at room temperature was deconvoluted into individual peaks. As the nanocrystalline silicon layer thickness was increased from 5 to 20 nm, the photoluminescence spectra red-shifted with the emission wavelength varying as d² (d is the size of the nanocrystallites), the characteristic signature underlying quantum size effects. The size d of the nanocrystals was estimated by the measured shift of the Raman peak, and could be tuned by varying the thickness of the nc-Si:H layers. High resolution transmission electron microscopy show nanocrystals with a narrow size distribution, in an amorphous matrix. We also observe long wavelength photoluminescence from interfacial states that leads to persistent photconductivity. In conclusion nanocrystalline-amorphous superlattices offer a unique pathway for synthesizing embedded nanocrystals with controlled sizes and photonic signatures.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-07CH11358

OSTI ID:: 1502872

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 22976383

Report Number(s):: IS-J--9875

Journal Information:: Journal of Materials Science Materials in Electronics, Journal Name: Journal of Materials Science Materials in Electronics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 30; ISSN 0957-4522

Publisher:: SpringerCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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