Abstract
Silicon suboxide thin films have been fabricated by physical vapor deposition of silicon monoxide in vacuum at controlled oxygen partial pressure. These films undergo a phase separation into silicon- and oxygen-enriched regions upon thermal processing. At temperatures around 900 °C, the onset of Si nanocrystallite formation is observed, regardless of film stoichiometry. With increasing initial oxygen content of the films, the mean size of created nanocrystallites decreases whereas the corresponding photoluminescence emission blueshifts. The photoluminescence intensity increases with increasing annealing temperature up to 1050 °C. Upon resonant excitation at low temperatures, the photoluminescence exhibits phonon replica signature. Therefore, the emission may be attributed to excitonic recombination in the nanocrystallites.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 3 July 2001 / Accepted: 6 August 2001 / Published online: 17 October 2001
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kahler, U., Hofmeister, H. Size evolution and photoluminescence of silicon nanocrystallites in evaporated SiOx thin films upon thermal processing. Appl Phys A 74, 13–17 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003390100993
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003390100993