Intense photoluminescence and photoluminescence enhancement of silicon nanocrystals by ultraviolet irradiation

Abstract

Photoluminescence (PL) from silicon nanocrystals deposited on top of silica-glass template and from silicon nanocrystals in nc_Si/SiO2 multilayer films were studied as a function of ultraviolet (UV) laser irradiation time in vacuum. Both the films exhibit intense visible PL at room temperature under laser excitation. It was found that upon prolong irradiation time using a He-Cd laser (325 nm) the PL intensity of the films was spectacularly enhanced. The process is reversible and does not happen with excitation wavelength longer than 400 nm. Upon introducing air into the measurement chamber, a rapid decrease of the PL intensity was recorded. This observation suggests that the UV light may lead to modification of nonradiative recombination centers in the films and thus improves the emission yield of silicon nanocrystals.