Silicon‐Based Inorganic–Organic Hybrid Nanocomposites for Optoelectronic Applications

Abstract

AbstractA nanocomposite consisting of a unique combination of optically active materials, that is, an inorganic–organic (IO) layered hybrid and porous silicon (PS), is prepared using a simple but effective three‐step electrochemical method. X‐ray diffraction, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectral analysis suggest that the IO hybrid (R‐MX4‐type 2D perovskite, where R represents an organic compound, M a divalent metal ion, and X a halide) is conveniently incorporated into the interstitial spaces of nanoporous silicon. The IO‐based 2D perovskite emits a strong and narrow room‐temperature exciton line at 520 nm due to effects related to dielectric confinement. Similarly, n‐type porous silicon emits in a broad range in the deep‐red region at 700 nm, which is attributable to the quantum confinement effects related to the nanoporosity in silicon. Because of the contributions from both entities, the completely space‐filled IO–PS nanocomposite shows an orange–yellow emission. The proposed methodology can be easily extended to a large number of such IO–PS functional nanocomposites and is thus expected to be used in optoelectronic applications such as light‐emitting diodes (LEDs), solar cells, and other optical elements.