Size control of erbium-doped silicon nanocrystals

Abstract

This work describes the effects of pyrolysis oven length and erbium precursor on the preparation of discrete erbium-doped silicon nanoparticles. These doped nanoparticles were prepared by the co-pyrolysis of disilane and the volatile complex Er(tmhd)3 (tmhd=2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionato). The particle sizes and size distributions were determined using high resolution and conventional transmission electron microscopy. Erbium-doped silicon nanoparticles exhibit a selected area electron diffraction pattern consistent with the diamond cubic phase and a distinctive dark contrast in the transmission electron microscope. The presence of erbium is confirmed by x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. In general, the mean diameter of the individual nanoparticles increases as the length of the pyrolysis oven used during their preparation is increased.