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Porous Silicon (porous + silicon)
Terms modified by Porous Silicon Selected AbstractsTemperature dependence of a twofold magnetic behaviour of a nanoscopic metal/silicon hybrid system , a comparison between Ni/Si and Co/SiPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 10 2009K. Rumpf Abstract The investigated hybrid nanocomposite consists of a porous silicon template with electrochemically embedded Ni or Co nanostructures and offers magnetic characteristics which can be tailored by the electrochemical process parameters during fabrication. A twofold magnetic behaviour can be observed, a first one due to the spinmagnetism at magnetic fields below the saturation magnetization of the deposited metals and a second non-saturating term at higher fields (> 1 T up to 7 T) above the saturation magnetization. In case of Ni deposited within the pores this non-saturating term shows a paramagnetic characteristic and follows exactly the Curie-Weiss law, whereas for Co/porous silicon samples the temperature dependent magnetization shows some deviations from the Curie Weiss law. In this high field region a difference in the temperature dependence between Ni and Co is observed whereas the non-saturating term does not depend on the geometry of the embedded nanostructures in contrast to the ferromagnetic behaviour at lower magnetic fields. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Porous Silicon-Based Optical Microsensors for Volatile Organic Analytes: Effect of Surface Chemistry on Stability and SpecificityADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 17 2010Anne M. Ruminski Abstract Sensing of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and heptane in air using sub-millimeter porous silicon-based sensor elements is demonstrated in the concentration range 50,800 ppm. The sensor elements are prepared as one-dimensional photonic crystals (rugate filters) by programmed electrochemical etch of p++ silicon, and analyte sensing is achieved by measurement of the wavelength shift of the photonic resonance. The sensors are studied as a function of surface chemistry: ozone oxidation, thermal oxidation, hydrosilylation (1-dodecene), electrochemical methylation, reaction with dicholorodimethylsilane and thermal carbonization with acetylene. The thermally oxidized and the dichlorodimethylsilane-modified materials show the greatest stability under atmospheric conditions. Optical microsensors are prepared by attachment of the porous Si layer to the distal end of optical fibers. The acetylated porous Si microsensor displays a greater response to heptane than to IPA, whereas the other chemical modifications display a greater response to IPA than to heptane. The thermal oxide sensor displays a strong response to water vapor, while the acetylated material shows a relatively weak response. The results suggest that a combination of optical fiber sensors with different surface chemistries can be used to classify VOC analytes. Application of the miniature sensors to the detection of VOC breakthrough in a full-scale activated carbon respirator cartridge simulator is demonstrated. [source] A Porous Silicon-Based Ionomer-Free Membrane Electrode Assembly for Miniature Fuel CellsFUEL CELLS, Issue 5 2006T. Pichonat Abstract Previous work showed the pertinence of using grafted porous silicon as the proton exchange membrane for miniature fuel cells. One of the limitations was the membrane-electrodes assembly, which required an ionomer, in the current study a 5% Nafion®-117 solution, to ensure a proton-conducting link between the commercial carbon cloth electrodes and the membrane. Here, new developments for this fuel cell, with a totally Nafion®-free process, are reported. The Pt catalyst is sputtered and electrodeposited onto the surface of the proton conducting porous silicon membrane. The initial performance of this fuel cell is shown and demonstrates the validity of the technique. [source] Joint FTIR and TPD study of hydrogen desorption from p+ -type porous siliconPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 1 2003P. Rivolo Abstract The H-terminated surface of Porous Silicon (PS) has been studied in the past decade basically by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. In one case only, a temperature programmed desorption (TPD) technique has been applied to an n-type PS sample. However, the evaluation of the amount of hydrogen thermally desorbed has never been attempted. The present work reports the joint FTIR and TPD study of hydrogen desorption from p+ -type PS and estimates the amount of hydrogen desorbed in the range 40,850 °C to be around 2 mmol/g. This suggests a ratio between H atoms and surface Si atoms of about one, giving support to the picture of PS as H-covered: as a consequence, only a few bare Si atoms are exposed at the surface and prone to act as adsorption centres, e.g. of NO2. A weak signal, in the TPD curve, is probably associated with the decomposition of a few Si,H,B bulk complexes. [source] Immersion Deposition of Pt Nanoparticles on Porous Silicon for Methanol OxidationCHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, Issue 9 2009Xu Su Abstract Porous silicon (PS) was chosen as the substrate for supporting the Pt particles because of great surface area, good conductivity and stability. Pt nanoparticles have been successfully prepared on the substrate by immersion deposition, which is convenient. The component and morphological properties of the films have been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which shows that the Pt particles have small size and big specific surface. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) research showed that the Pt nanoparticles had novel catalytic activity for methanol when the immersion deposition time was past 24 min. [source] Porous silicon/metal nanocomposite with tailored magnetic propertiesPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 6 2009Petra Granitzer Abstract Porous silicon (PS) templates in the meso/macro porous regime with oriented pores clearly separated from each other and filled in a galvanic deposition process with various metals, especially ferromagnetic ones are magnetically investigated. The employment of different metals (e.g. Ni, Co, NiCo) together with the variation of the electrochemical deposition parameters modifies the structural characteristics of the PS/metal nanocomposite and thus leads to distinct magnetic properties of the hybrid system. Furthermore the use of different PS-templates which means a change of the pore-diameter and interpore spacing results also in various magnetic characteristics, especially influences on the magnetic interactions among the deposited metal nanostructures. Therefore the specimens show tailored magnetic properties like coercivity, squareness and magnetic anisotropy. The achieved nanocomposite merges electronic properties of a semiconductor with nanomagnetism and therefore opens the possibility of integrated spin-based electronic devices. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Porous silicon as a cell interface for bone tissue engineeringPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007Wei Sun Abstract A novel cell interface has been constructed on porous silicon. We have demonstrated that nano- to macro-scale porous architectures have promising osteoconductive potentials. Macroporous silicon (pore opening 1,2 µm) is especially favorable for osteoblast adhesion, growth, protein synthesis and mineralization. An electronic/optoelectronic controllable medical implant with both scaffolding and drug delivery functions may be created for orthopaedic tissue engineering with this material. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Porous silicon-based potentiometric biosensor for triglyceridesPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007S. Setzu Abstract In this paper we report on the fabrication and characterization of a potentiometric biosensor for the detection of triglycerides. This is constituted by a lipase immobilized on a mesoporous Si matrix. Prototypes, realized on 1 × 1 cm n+ -type silicon wafers, show a very high enzymatic activity. Moreover the properties of these biosensors have been shown to be stable in a several months time interval, clearly showing their advantages with respect to traditional triglycerides detection systems. The Michaelis Menten curve is obtained to demonstrate the absence of diffusion problems. Potentiometric measurements are also shown. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Rare earth ions in porous silicon: optical propertiesPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007H. Elhouichet Abstract Porous silicon (PS) is doped with rare earth (RE) ions (Er, Eu, Tb) by electrochemical anodisation. The penetration of RE into the PS layer is confirmed by Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS) and by Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) measurements. Efficient visible and infrared emissions were observed at room temperature. The activation temperatures of Eu, Tb and Er in PS are determined from the effect of thermal annealing on the photoluminescence (PL) intensity. From the evolution of the PL intensity versus temperature, it was found that a RE related level defect can be involved on the excitation and emission processes. Pump intensity dependent PL studies revealed that for the electrochemical incorporation, most of the RE ions are localized inside the Si nanocrystallites and not in stochiometric SiO2. The optical cross section is close to that of erbium in Si nanocrystallites. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Enhanced control of porous silicon morphology from macropore to mesopore formationPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 8 2005Huimin Ouyang Abstract Porous silicon (PSi) is a versatile material that possesses a wide range of morphologies. There are two main types of microstructures that are widely used and well studied: branchy mesoporous silicon with pore sizes from 10 nm to 50 nm and classical macroporous silicon with pore sizes from 500 nm to 20 µm. Much less work has been done on structures with intermediate pore sizes from 100 nm to 300 nm. Applications such as immunoassays biosensing can greatly benefit from the intermediate morphology due to the larger pore openings compared to mesopores, and increased internal surface compared to classical macropores. In this work we demonstrate well-defined macropore of 150 nm diameter in average and precise control of the porous silicon morphology transition from smooth macropores to branchy mesopores on one substrate with one electrolyte. A multilayer structure (microcavity) consisting of both mesopores and macropores is presented. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Immersion Deposition of Pt Nanoparticles on Porous Silicon for Methanol OxidationCHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, Issue 9 2009Xu Su Abstract Porous silicon (PS) was chosen as the substrate for supporting the Pt particles because of great surface area, good conductivity and stability. Pt nanoparticles have been successfully prepared on the substrate by immersion deposition, which is convenient. The component and morphological properties of the films have been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which shows that the Pt particles have small size and big specific surface. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) research showed that the Pt nanoparticles had novel catalytic activity for methanol when the immersion deposition time was past 24 min. [source] Commercial applications of porous Si: optical filters and componentsPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 6 2007V. Kochergin Abstract It is shown that porous Silicon in various geometries and morphologies can be used for novel optical elements by combining theoretical insights with suitable porous structures and some pre- and post-processing of the Silicon. The paper restricts itself to light propagation in the pore direction. Theoretical and experimental results will be presented for the following novel optical elements: environmentally stable optical components from mesoporous Silicon, long wave pass filters, macroporous Silicon UV Filters, and polarization components for the UV range. Either new components are presented, mostly with first experimental results, or the state-of-the art for previously discussed elements is considerably improved upon. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Porous Silicon-Based Optical Microsensors for Volatile Organic Analytes: Effect of Surface Chemistry on Stability and SpecificityADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 17 2010Anne M. Ruminski Abstract Sensing of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and heptane in air using sub-millimeter porous silicon-based sensor elements is demonstrated in the concentration range 50,800 ppm. The sensor elements are prepared as one-dimensional photonic crystals (rugate filters) by programmed electrochemical etch of p++ silicon, and analyte sensing is achieved by measurement of the wavelength shift of the photonic resonance. The sensors are studied as a function of surface chemistry: ozone oxidation, thermal oxidation, hydrosilylation (1-dodecene), electrochemical methylation, reaction with dicholorodimethylsilane and thermal carbonization with acetylene. The thermally oxidized and the dichlorodimethylsilane-modified materials show the greatest stability under atmospheric conditions. Optical microsensors are prepared by attachment of the porous Si layer to the distal end of optical fibers. The acetylated porous Si microsensor displays a greater response to heptane than to IPA, whereas the other chemical modifications display a greater response to IPA than to heptane. The thermal oxide sensor displays a strong response to water vapor, while the acetylated material shows a relatively weak response. The results suggest that a combination of optical fiber sensors with different surface chemistries can be used to classify VOC analytes. Application of the miniature sensors to the detection of VOC breakthrough in a full-scale activated carbon respirator cartridge simulator is demonstrated. [source] Integration of a Chemical-Responsive Hydrogel into a Porous Silicon Photonic Sensor for Visual Colorimetric ReadoutADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 4 2010Lisa M. Bonanno Abstract The incorporation of a chemo-responsive hydrogel into a 1D photonic porous silicon (PSi) transducer is demonstrated. A versatile hydrogel backbone is designed via the synthesis of an amine-functionalized polyacrylamide copolymer where further amine-specific biochemical reactions can enable control of cross-links between copolymer chains based on complementary target,probe systems. As an initial demonstration, the incorporation of disulfide chemistry to control cross-linking of this hydrogel system within a PSi Bragg mirror sensor is reported. Direct optical monitoring of a characteristic peak in the white light reflectivity spectrum of the incorporated PSi Bragg mirror facilitates real-time detection of the hydrogel dissolution in response to the target analyte (reducing agent) over a timescale of minutes. The hybrid sensor response characteristics are shown to systematically depend on hydrogel cross-linking density and applied target analyte concentration. Additionally, effects due to responsive hydrogel confinement in a porous template are shown to depend on pore size and architecture of the PSi transducer substrate. Sufficient copolymer and water is removed from the PSi transducer upon dissolution and drying of the hydrogel to induce color changes that can be detected by the unaided eye. This highlights the potential for future development for point-of-care diagnostic biosensing. [source] A Porous Silicon-Based Ionomer-Free Membrane Electrode Assembly for Miniature Fuel CellsFUEL CELLS, Issue 5 2006T. Pichonat Abstract Previous work showed the pertinence of using grafted porous silicon as the proton exchange membrane for miniature fuel cells. One of the limitations was the membrane-electrodes assembly, which required an ionomer, in the current study a 5% Nafion®-117 solution, to ensure a proton-conducting link between the commercial carbon cloth electrodes and the membrane. Here, new developments for this fuel cell, with a totally Nafion®-free process, are reported. The Pt catalyst is sputtered and electrodeposited onto the surface of the proton conducting porous silicon membrane. The initial performance of this fuel cell is shown and demonstrates the validity of the technique. [source] Protein-Modified Porous Silicon NanostructuresADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 8 2008Luca De Stefano Biological passivation of porous silicon (PSi)-based optical devices is demonstrated. Infiltration by small amphiphilic fungal proteins called HFBs changes the wettability of the PSi surface (see figure) and protects the sponge-like structure against dissolution by basic solutions. This protein membrane leaves the sensing ability of an optical transducer unchanged, adding chemical stability that can be the key in biomolecular experiments. [source] Chemically modified porous silicon for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry of ionic dyesJOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 8 2009I. V. Shmigol Abstract Desorption/ionization on silicon (DIOS) mass spectra of model ionic dyes methylene blue (MB+Cl,) and methyl orange (Na+MO,) were studied using p+ type-derived porous silicon (PS) free layers. As-prepared PS (PS-H), the PS thermally oxidized at 300 °C (PS-OX), PS with chemically grafted cation-exchanging alkylsulfonic acid (PS-SO3H) and anion-exchanging propyl-octadecyldimethylammonium chloride (PS-ODMA+Cl,) groups was tested as ionization platforms. Two mechanisms of the methylene blue desorption/ionization were found: (1) the formation of [MB + H]+, ion due to the reduction/protonation of MB+, which is predominant for PS-H and PS-OX platforms and (2) direct thermal desorption of the MB+ cation, prevailing for PS-SO3H. The fragmentation of the cation is significantly suppressed in the latter case. The samples of PS-SO3H and PS-ODMA+ Cl, efficiently adsorb the dyes of the opposite charge from their solutions via the ion-exchange. Consequent DIOS MS studies allow to detect only low fragmented ions (MB+ and MO,, respectively), demonstrating the potential of the ion-exchange adsorption combined with DIOS MS for the analysis of ionic organic compounds in solutions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effective detection of peptides containing cysteine sulfonic acid using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and laser desorption/ionization on porous silicon mass spectrometryJOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 1 2006Tomoya Kinumi Abstract Cysteine sulfonic acid-containing peptides, being typical acidic peptides, exhibit low response in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. In this study, matrix conditions and the effect of diammonium hydrogencitrate (DAHC) as additive were investigated for ionization of cysteine sulfonic acid-containing peptides in MALDI. A matrix-free ionization method, desorption/ionization on porous silicon (DIOS), was also utilized to evaluate the effect of DAHC. When equimolar three-component mixtures of peptides carrying free cysteine, cysteine sulfonic acid, and carbamidomethyl cysteine were measured by MALDI using a common matrix, ,-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA), no signal corresponding to cysteine sulfonic acid-containing peptide could be observed in the mass spectrum. However, by addition of DAHC to CHCA, the peaks of cysteine sulfonic acid-containing peptides were successfully observed, as well as when using 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone (THAP) and 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone with DAHC. In the DIOS mass spectra of these analytes, the use of DAHC also enhanced the peak intensity of the cysteine sulfonic acid-containing peptides. On the basis of studies with these model peptides, tryptic digests of oxidized peroxiredoxin 6 were examined as a complex peptide mixture by MALDI and DIOS. In MALDI, the peaks of cysteine sulfonic acid-containing peptides were observed when using THAP/DAHC as the matrix, but this was not so with CHCA. In DIOS, the signal from cysteine sulfonic acid-containing peptides was suppressed; however, the use of DAHC significantly enhanced the signal intensity with an increase in the number of observed peptides and increased signal-to-noise ratio in the DIOS spectra. The results show that DAHC in the matrix or on the DIOS chip decreases discrimination and suppression effects in addition to suppressing alkali-adduct ions, which leads to a beneficial effect on protonation of peptides containing cysteine sulfonic acid. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Optimization of a Nanoporous Silicon Layer for Solar Cell ApplicationJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 12 2008Guk-Hwan An A pyramidal structure and an n/p junction-formed wafer were used for the porous silicon (PS) layer formation. The pyramidal structure was adopted to maximize the light confinement with the PS layer. Also, in order to apply the PS layer to the solar cell directly, the n/p junction was adopted. To optimize the PS layer on this new type of surface, three kinds of solutions, ethanol, N,N -dimethylformamide, and formamide (FA), were used with hydrofluoric acid as a base of electrolyte. Various current densities were applied for PS layer formation with various anodizing durations. The reflectance and the microstructure were used as criteria for the selection of the most suitable PS layer. Consequently, an effective reflectance of 2.4% was obtained with 50 mA/cm2 and 10 s under the FA-based electrolyte condition. The result was expected to be used as an antireflection coating for solar cell applications. [source] Multistep filling of porous silicon with conductive polymer by electropolymerizationPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 6 2009Kazuhiro Fukami Abstract The filling of porous silicon with polypyrrole by electropolymerization was investigated. The filling with polypyrrole proceeded preferentially along the porous silicon wall, leading to the formation of tubular structures. By repeating the porosification, the pore filling and the additional porosification, through-tubes of polypyrrole were formed in macropores. The technique to form through-tube was also applied to medium-sized pores. A double layer with polypyrrole was produced by the repetition of porosification and pore filling twice. The immobilization of glucose oxidase was performed by electropolymerization in an aqueous solution containing glucose oxidase and pyrrole. Glucose oxidase was immobilized physically in the polypyrrole film. In the double layer, the sensitivity of glucose oxidase was measured by electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen peroxide, which was produced by the enzymatic reaction of glucose oxidase to gluconolactone. When glucose oxidase was immobilized in the upper layer, glucose was detected sensitively. On the other hand, when glucose oxidase was immobilized in the lower layer, the sensing current showed a slow and a low response. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Singlet oxygen inhibits nonradiative defects in porous siliconPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 6 2009V. B. Pikulev Abstract Experimental evidences are presented for the first time that singlet oxygen generated ex situ acts as an inhibitor of nonradiative recombination in porous silicon (PSi). This effect is observed on a pristine PSi as well as on degraded porous layers quenched by ozone adsorption. A photoluminescence (PL) enhancement produced by singlet oxygen is accompanied with only slight oxidation of a PSi. We assume that the observed effect on PL efficiency is due to gentle selective oxidation of single defects on silicon nanocrystal surface. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Detection of protease activity by FRET using porous silicon as an energy acceptorPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 6 2009Luo Gu Abstract This work demonstrates a method for detection of protease activity using porous Si as the energy acceptor in a Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) assay. A fluorescent dye (fluorescein) is trapped in a porous Si matrix, where its fluorescence is quenched. The dye is trapped using a protein (zein), and the action of proteases (Pronase E) release the dye from the quenching matrix. A strong fluorescence signal appears within 30 min of Pronase E addition. A control with no Pronase E shows little fluorescence, and a control using heat-denatured Pronase E shows approximately 50% of the fluorescence of the active protease. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Integrated inductors on porous siliconPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007H. Contopanagos The cover picture illustrates the effective use of a thick porous silicon layer as an integrated micro-plate for RF isolation on a silicon substrate, proposed by Harry Contopanagos and Androula Nassiopoulou in their Original Paper [1] in the current issue. What is plotted is the magnitude of the current distribution (colour coded from blue (low) to high (red) values) on the metallization and on a screen 50 µm underneath the bottom oxide layer of a 2-metal integrated CMOS-compatible inductor on bulk silicon (lower right) and on a 50 µm thick porous silicon layer (upper left) for a frequency of 2.5 GHz. Inductors were designed in a standard 0.13 µm CMOS technology. Efficient RF isolation is produced by the porous Si layer, as evidenced by the virtual elimination of surface currents relative to the case of standard CMOS, indicating virtually complete substrate shielding by a 50 µm thick porous Si layer for the relevant size scale. The quality factor of the inductor with the use of the porous Si layer is increased by 100%, reaching a maximum value of 33 for the design shown. The first author of the article is a visiting senior researcher at the Institute of Microelectronics (IMEL), National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos" (Athens, Greece). His research focuses on electromagnetics and microwave engineering, artificial materials and photonic crystals, wireless front ends, antennas and high-frequency analog integrated circuits. [source] Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of silicon nanowires treated by high-pressure water vapor annealingPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007B. Salhi Abstract This paper reports on silicon nanowires (SiNWs) growth on porous silicon (PS) template using vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) technique and the effect of high-pressure water vapor annealing (HWA) on their optical properties. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with average mean diameter of 50 and 20 nm were used as catalysts. The SiNWs were obtained by thermal decomposition of silane gas (SiH4) at high temperature (540 °C) catalyzed by the Au NPs. The resulting nanostructures display comparable diameter to the initial gold catalysts and are few microns long without a preferential growth direction. We have next examined the optical properties of the 20 nm diameter SiNWs. As-prepared SiNWs display a weak photoluminescence (PL), which is related to the recombination emissions from defect centers. High-pressure water vapor annealing (HWA) at 260 °C and 2.6 MPa of the SiNWs led to an increase of the PL by a factor 10 without significant changes in the emission band. TEM analysis of the HWA-treated SiNWs showed a crystalline silicon core surrounded by an amorphous oxide layer. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Dynamics of photogenerated carriers in porous silicon probed by microwave absorptionPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007H. E. PorteanuArticle first published online: 27 APR 200 Abstract We report on dynamics of photogenerated carriers in porous silicon using contactless investigation tools. A comparison of two theoretical models: the simple point charge description versus degenerate gas model is presented. The temperature dependence reveals the dominant role of surface states below 70 K. Light intensity dependences evidence Auger processes. The optical and chemical properties can be indirectly improved using the microwave conductivity by studying the surface states of porous materials. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Optical properties of delta poly-type quasiregular dielectric structures made of porous siliconPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007V. Agarwal Abstract To investigate the reflection of light in quasi-regular dielectrics, we study here the optical properties of porous-silicon-based Fibonacci, Thue-Morse and Period Doubling heterostructures. The multilayered systems are fabricated in such a way that each element in the two-block substitutional sequence has a poly-type structure. Both delta-like and traditional configurations are considered. The results for the optical transmittance are analyzed and compared with the classical periodic structure. Numerical simulation for the transmittance along the lines of the transfer matrix approach is also presented. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Porous silicon as a cell interface for bone tissue engineeringPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007Wei Sun Abstract A novel cell interface has been constructed on porous silicon. We have demonstrated that nano- to macro-scale porous architectures have promising osteoconductive potentials. Macroporous silicon (pore opening 1,2 µm) is especially favorable for osteoblast adhesion, growth, protein synthesis and mineralization. An electronic/optoelectronic controllable medical implant with both scaffolding and drug delivery functions may be created for orthopaedic tissue engineering with this material. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Rare earth ions in porous silicon: optical propertiesPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007H. Elhouichet Abstract Porous silicon (PS) is doped with rare earth (RE) ions (Er, Eu, Tb) by electrochemical anodisation. The penetration of RE into the PS layer is confirmed by Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS) and by Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) measurements. Efficient visible and infrared emissions were observed at room temperature. The activation temperatures of Eu, Tb and Er in PS are determined from the effect of thermal annealing on the photoluminescence (PL) intensity. From the evolution of the PL intensity versus temperature, it was found that a RE related level defect can be involved on the excitation and emission processes. Pump intensity dependent PL studies revealed that for the electrochemical incorporation, most of the RE ions are localized inside the Si nanocrystallites and not in stochiometric SiO2. The optical cross section is close to that of erbium in Si nanocrystallites. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Waveguiding, absorption and emission properties of dye-impregnated oxidized porous siliconPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007D. Navarro-Urrios Abstract The waveguiding, absorption and emission properties of oxidised porous silicon waveguides when impregnated with Nile Blue have been studied. We present m-line measurements before and after the impregnation showing that the effective indices of the modes remain the same. When performing guided luminescence experiments, a structured emission band is measured. Using the refractive index profile extracted from m-line measurements it has been possible to simulate the emission lineshape assuming the observation of an interference pattern formed across the waveguide. We demonstrate that these oscillations appear because in the first hundreds of nanometers the dye concentration is several orders of magnitude higher than in the rest of the sample. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Porous silicon substrates for neurons culturing and bio-photonic sensingPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 8 2005S. Ben-Tabou de-Leon Abstract In this work we report on culturing of Aplysia neurons and vertebrate cells to porous silicon substrates and on the first steps toward characterizing porous silicon as a biosensor of neural activity. Neurons cultured on porous silicon substrates survived for at least one week showing normal passive membrane properties and generation of action potentials. We have investigated several mechanisms that take advantage of the optical properties of porous silicon for transducing both electrical and chemical neuronal activities into photonic signals. For example, the photoluminescence response to voltage and the reflectivity response to chemical changes were investigated. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] | ||||||||||||||||