Applied Surface Science, Vol.252, No.15, 5249-5253, 2006
Light emission from silicon nanocrystals: Probing a single quantum dot
Analysis of low-temperature photoluminescence measurements performed on single silicon nanocrystals is presented. The luminescence emission linewidth of Si nanocrystals is found to be less than thermal broadening at low temperature, confirming the atomic-like nature of their energetic states. Beside the main peak the low-temperature spectra reveal a similar to 6 meV replica, the origin of which is discussed. For some of the investigated dots, we also observe a similar to 60 meV transverse optical (TO) phonon replica. The regular arrangement of individual nanocrystals used in this work enables combined high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and low-temperature photoluminescence characterization of the same single quantum dot. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords:silicon nanocrystal;luminescence