0000000000805471
AUTHOR
A. F. Zatsepin
Photoluminescence of Si nanocrystals embedded in SiO2: Excitation/emission mapping
Time-resolved photoluminescence from Si nanocrystals produced by 1100∘C thermal annealing of SiOx/SiO2 multilayers were investigated by tunable laser excitation, achieving a detailed excitation/emission pattern in the visible and UV range. The emission lineshape is a gaussian curve inhomogenously broadened because of the size distribution of Si nanocrystals, the excitation spectrum consists of the overlap of two gaussian bands centered around 3.4 and 5.1 eV. The mapping of luminescence spectral components with the lifetime points out the energy cubic dependence of the spontaneous emission rate. These findings are interpreted on the basis of models proposed in literature that associate this …
Insight into the defect-molecule interaction through the molecular-like photoluminescence of SiO2 nanoparticles
Luminescence properties due to surface defects in SiO2 are the main keystone with particles that have nanoscale dimensions, thus motivating their investigation for many emission related applications in the last few decades. A critical issue is the role played by the atmosphere that, by quenching mechanisms, weakens both the efficiency and stability of the defects. A deep knowledge of these factors is mandatory in order to properly limit any detrimental effects and, ultimately, to offer new advantageous possibilities for their exploitation. Up to now, quenching effects have been interpreted as general defect conversion processes due to the difficulty in disentangling the emission kinetics by…
Environment assisted photoconversion of luminescent surface defects in SiO 2 nanoparticles
Abstract Time-resolved photoluminescence investigation on SiO 2 nanoparticles was carried out in controlled atmosphere, with the aim to discern the effects induced on the typical blue luminescence band by high power UV Nd:YAG laser photons (4.66 eV) and by some selected molecular species of the air (O 2 , N 2 , CO 2 , H 2 O). These factors ultimately determine both the brightness and photostability of the emitting defect, so as to limit the unique and attracting potentialities offered by this system in many applicative fields. Here it is highlighted that the effects due to photons and molecules, singularly considered, are not additive, the radiation being more dramatic in reducing the emiss…