Structural and Optical Properties of Porous Silicon Nanostructures


Book Description

This volume provides a comprehensive review of the experimental and theoretical aspects of the optical and transport properties of nanoporous silicon, their relation to the microscopic structure of nanocrystals, and the application of porous silicon in optical devices. As porous silicon is an ideal substance for the modelling of optical processes in nanocrystalline materials, this volume also is an excellent reference source on the more general subject of the structural and optical properties of nanocrystalline semiconductors.




Properties of Porous Silicon


Book Description

A detailed insight into porous silicon and its diverse novel applications.




Solar Cells


Book Description

Solar cell energy is the single most pressing issue facing humanity, with a more technologically advanced society requiring better energy resources. This book discusses technologies broadly, depending on how they capture and distribute solar energy or convert it into solar power. The major areas covered in this book are: • The theory of solar cells, which explains the conversion of light energy in photons into electric current. The theoretical studies are practical because they predict the fundamental limits of a solar cell. • The design and development of thin-film technology-based solar cells. • State of the art for bulk material applied for solar cells based on crystalline silicon (c-Si), also known as “solar grade silicon,” and emerging photovoltaics.




Porous Silicon: Material, Technology and Devices


Book Description

These proceedings represent the most recent progress in the field of porous silicon. Several papers present results in which the influence of the formation parameters on the structural and optical properties has been investigated. Further topics dealt with include: the influence of light during the formation process on the photoluminescence behaviour; fundamental mechanism of the photoluminescence; the electroluminescence of porous silicon; applications based on porous silicon; charge carrier transport.




Silicon Nanocrystals


Book Description

This unique collection of knowledge represents a comprehensive treatment of the fundamental and practical consequences of size reduction in silicon crystals. This clearly structured reference introduces readers to the optical, electrical and thermal properties of silicon nanocrystals that arise from their greatly reduced dimensions. It covers their synthesis and characterization from both chemical and physical viewpoints, including ion implantation, colloidal synthesis and vapor deposition methods. A major part of the text is devoted to applications in microelectronics as well as photonics and nanobiotechnology, making this of great interest to the high-tech industry.




Handbook of Infrared Spectroscopy of Ultrathin Films


Book Description

Because of the rapid increase in commercially available Fouriertransform infrared spectrometers and computers over the past tenyears, it has now become feasible to use IR spectrometry tocharacterize very thin films at extended interfaces. At the sametime, interest in thin films has grown tremendously because ofapplications in microelectronics, sensors, catalysis, andnanotechnology. The Handbook of Infrared Spectroscopy of UltrathinFilms provides a practical guide to experimental methods,up-to-date theory, and considerable reference data, critical forscientists who want to measure and interpret IR spectra ofultrathin films. This authoritative volume also: Offers informationneeded to effectively apply IR spectroscopy to the analysis andevaluation of thin and ultrathin films on flat and rough surfacesand on powders at solid-gaseous, solid-liquid, liquid-gaseous,liquid-liquid, and solid-solid interfaces. Provides full discussion of theory underlying techniques Describes experimental methods in detail, including optimumconditions for recording spectra and the interpretation ofspectra Gives detailed information on equipment, accessories, andtechniques Provides IR spectroscopic data tables as appendixes, includingthe first compilation of published data on longitudinal frequenciesof different substances Covers new approaches, such as Surface Enhanced IR spectroscopy(SEIR), time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy, high-resolutionmicrospectroscopy and using synchotron radiation




Luminescence Spectroscopy of Semiconductors


Book Description

This book reviews up-to-date ideas of how the luminescence radiation in semiconductors originates and how to analyze it experimentally. The book fills a gap between general textbooks on optical properties of solids and specialized monographs on luminescence. It is unique in its coherent treatment of the phenomenon of luminescence from the very introductory definitions, from light emission in bulk crystalline and amorphous materials to the advanced chapters that deal with semiconductor nano objects, including spectroscopy of individual nanocrystals. The theory of radiative recombination channels in semiconductors is considered on a level of intuitive physical understanding rather than rigorous quantum mechanical treatment. The book is based on teaching and written in the style of a graduate text with plenty of tutorial material, illustrations, and problem sets at chapter ends. It is designed predominantly for students in physics, optics, optoelectronics and materials science.




Optical Properties of Low Dimensional Silicon Structures


Book Description

The workshop on "Optical Properties of Low Dimensional Silicon sL Structures" was held in Meylan, France on March, I yd, 1993. The workshop took place inside the facilities of France Telecom- CNET. Around 45 leading scientists working on this rapidly moving field were in attendance. Principal support was provided by the Advanced Research Workshop Program of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). French Delegation a l'Armement and CNET gave also a small financial grant, the organisational part being undertaken by the SEE and CNET. There is currently intense research activity worldwide devoted to the optical properties of low dimensional silicon structures. This follow the recent discovery of efficient visible photoluminescence (PL) from highly porous silicon. This workshop was intended to bring together all the leading European scientists and laboratories in order to reveal the state of the art and to open new research fields on this subject. A large number of invited talks took place (12) together with regular contribution (20). The speakers were asked to leave nearly 1/3 of the time to the discussion with the audience, and that promoted both formal and informal discussions between the participants.




Porous Silicon


Book Description

Due to the recent discovery of the room-temperature visible light emission from porous silicon (P-Si), a great interest in P-Si and related materials has arisen in the last decade of the 20th century. Crystalline (c-) Si, at the heart of integrated circuits, has an indirect band gap of 1.1 eV, which limits its application in optoelectronics. The visible light emitting P-Si may open a new field combining Si integrated technology and optoelectronics. This book is a comprehensive review of the recent research and development of porous silicon. Strong visible photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) from P-Si and other forms of silicon nanocrystallites (nc-Si) are reviewed. Several proposed mechanisms for the PL from porous silicon such as quantum confinement, amorphicity and molecular PL are studied. The following issues are covered: mechanisms for the visible light emission, physical structures, studies of the PL and EL, correlation of structure and optical studies, surface physics and chemistry, relationships among various forms (P-Si, a-Si, µc-Si), device applications, future developments.