Amorphous and nanocrystalline luminescent Si and Ge obtained via a solid-state chemical metathesis synthesis route

Journal Article · Tue Mar 15 04:00:00 EST 2005 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssc.2004.12.040· OSTI ID:20725857

McMillan, Paul F ^[1]; Gryko, Jan ^[2]; Bull, Craig ^[3]; Arledge, Richard ^[2]; Kenyon, Anthony J ^[4]; Cressey, Barbara A ^[5]

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1. Christopher Ingold Laboratory, Materials Chemistry Centre, Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ (United Kingdom) and Davy Faraday Research Laboratory, Royal Institution of Great Britain, London W1S 4BS (United Kingdom)
2. Department of Physical and Earth Sciences, Jacksonville State University, AL 36265 (United States)
3. School of Physics and Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions, University of Edinburgh, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ (United Kingdom)
4. Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE (United Kingdom)
5. Science and Engineering Electron Microscopy Centre, School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ (United Kingdom)

A new solid-state metathesis synthesis route was applied to obtain bulk samples of amorphous or microcrystalline Si and Ge. The method involves reaction of Zintl phases such as NaSi or NaGe, with ammonium or metal (e.g., CuCl, CoBr{sub 2}) halides. The driving force for the solid-state reaction is provided by the formation of alkali halides and the transition metals or metal silicides, or gaseous ammonia and hydrogen. The semiconductors were purified by washing to remove other solid products. The amorphous semiconductors were obtained in bulk form from reactions carried out at 200-300{sup o}C. Syntheses at higher temperatures gave rise to microcrystalline semiconductors, or to micro-/nanocrystalline particles contained within the amorphous material. Similar crystalline/amorphous composites were obtained after heat treatment of bulk amorphous materials.

• OSTI ID: 20725857
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Solid State Chemistry Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 178; ISSN 0022-4596; ISSN JSSCBI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
COBALT BROMIDES
COPPER CHLORIDES
GERMANIUM
LUMINESCENCE
NANOSTRUCTURES
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SILICIDES
SILICON
SOLIDS
SYNTHESIS
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0400-1000 K