Skip to main content
Log in

On the mechanism of electroluminescence emission by porous silicon layers

  • Published:
Central European Journal of Chemistry

Abstract

The analytical treatment of a model considering the electrooxidation of p-porous silicon layers under galvanostatic conditions is able to give account of experimental facts such as the shape and location of the electroluminescence peak as well as of the spectral shift of the electroluminescence peak produced by oxidation. The proposed model considers electroluminescence to be the result of electron injection into the conduction band by an adsorbed intermediate produced by electrooxidation of the surface coverage with hydrogen or siloxene of the silicon nanocrystallites. The access of holes to the surface is made possible by low accumulation layer conditions and is the rate determining step in the electroluminescence mechanism. In this way it is possible to give a satisfactory explanation to the shift towards the blue experimented by the electroluminiscence emission maximum as a consequence of electrooxidation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. L.T. Canham: “Silicon Quantum Wire Array Fabrication by Electrochemical and Chemical Dissolution of Wafers”, Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 57(10), (1990), pp. 1046–1048.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. N. Koshida and H. Koyama: “Visible Electroluminescence from Porous Silicon”, Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 60(3), (1992), pp. 347–349.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. V. Lehmann and U. Gösele: “Porous Silicon Formation. A Quantum Wire Effect”, Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 58(8), (1991), pp. 856–858.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. A.G. Cullis and L.T. Canham: “Visible Light Emission due to Quantum Size Effects in Highly Porous Crystalline Silicon”, Nature, Vol. 353, (1991), pp. 335–338.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. S. Gardelis, J.S. Rimmer, P. Dawson, B. Hamilton, R.A. Kubiak, T.E. Whall and E.H.C. Parker: “Evidence for Quantum Confinement in the Photoluminescence of Porous Si and SiGe”, Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 59(17), (1991), pp. 2118–2120.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. M.S. Brandt, H.D. Fuchs, M. Stutzmann, J. Weber and M. Cardona: “The Origin of Visible Luminescence from Porous Silicon. A New Interpretation”, Solid State Commun., Vol. 81(4), (1992), pp. 307–312.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. L.M. Peter, A.M. Borazio, H.J. Lewerenz and J. Stumper: “Photocurrent Multiplication During Photodissolution of Normal Si in NH4F. Deconvolution of Electron Injection Steps by Intensity Modulated Photocurrent Spectroscopy”, J. Electroanal. Chem., Vol. 290(1–2), (1990), pp. 229–248.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. R. Herino: “Luminescence of Porous Silicon after Electrochemical Oxidation”, In: J.C. Vial and J. Derrien (Eds.): Porous Silicon Science and Technology, Springe Verlag, 1995, Chapter IV, pp. 53–66.

  9. J. González Velasco: “A Kinetic Study of the Origin of Electroluminescence in Porous Silicon Layers”, Electrochimica Acta, Vol. 46(19), (2001), pp. 2991–3000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Y.V. Pleskov and Yu.Ya. Gurevich: Semiconductor Photoelectrochemistry, Consultants Bureau, New York, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  11. R.L. Schmith and S.D. Collins: “Porous Silicon Formation Mechanism”, J. Appl. Phys., Vol. 71(8), (1992), pp. R1-R22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

About this article

Cite this article

Velasco, J.G. On the mechanism of electroluminescence emission by porous silicon layers. cent.eur.j.chem. 3, 470–481 (2005). https://doi.org/10.2478/BF02479276

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/BF02479276

Keywords

Navigation