The Effect of Starting Silicon Crystal Structure on Photoluminescence Intensity of Porous Silicon

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn previous work we reported that porous silicon (PS) films formed using a dilute HF:HNO3 chemical etch on polycrystalline, implant damaged single crystal, or amorphous starting material have luminescent characteristics that differ from PS fabricated on single crystal silicon1. Polycrystalline and implant damaged porous silicon exhibits brighter luminescence compared to single crystal silicon etched under identical conditions. No photoluminescence is detected from the porous amorphous silicon. In this work these effects are examined using HF:NaNO2 solutions with freely available NO2. The accelerated etching effects from work damage are reduced, and the PS from polycrystalline and implant damaged silicon luminesce with the same intensity as the PS from single crystal silicon. Again, etched amorphous silicon does not luminesce. TEM and EDX porosity measurements are used to determine the differences in structure and etching characteristics between the luminescent and non-luminescent materials.