Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Vol.467, 195-202, 2007
Fluorescence of porous silicon filled with liquid crystal 5CB
In the present research, we consider nanoporous silicon filled with nematic liquid crystal (W) n-pentyl-n'-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) as a specimen of hybrid systems with high quantum yield of fluorescence (FL). The steady-state and time-resolued FL spectra of this system excited by a nitrogen laser (lambda = 337 nm) are measured. The maxima of the emission bands for porous silicon are obtained in the range 627-667 nm depending on the sample morphology. In case of porous silicon filled with 5CB, the short-wave bands of 5CB are detected along with the bands of porous silicon. The FL bands of 5CB and porous silicon were characterized by nanosecond and microsecond relaxation, respectively. It is revealed that the tilling with 5CB enhances the luminescence of porous silicon by 2-3 times. Such an enhancement is due to the nonradiating energy transfer from 5CB to the porous matrix. A possible mechanism of this energy transfer is discussed.