Structural, Optical and Electrical Properties of ZnS/Porous Silicon Heterostructures

ZnS films are deposited by pulsed laser deposition on porous silicon （PS） substrates formed by electrochemical anodization of p-type （100） silicon wafer. Scanning electron microscope images reveal that the surface of ZnS films is unsmoothed, and there are some cracks in the ZnS films due to the roughness of the PS surface. The x-ray diffraction patterns show that the ZnS films on PS surface are grown in preferring orientation along cubic phase β-ZnS （111） direction. White light emission is obtained by combining the blue-green emission from ZnS films with the orange-red emission from PS layers. Based on the I-V characteristic, the ZnS/PS heterojunction exhibits the rectifying junction behaviour, and an ideality factor n is calculated to be 77 from the I-V plot.

Photoluminescence Properties of Porous Silicon Based on FZ(H) Si Wafer

The photoluminescence (PL) properties of porous silicon (PS) have been studied based on n-type single-crystal (111) silicon wafers (80-90 Omega .cm in the resistivity). The porous silicon layers (PSL) were created by anodizing the wafers with a denuded zone of 20-40 mum formed by neutron transmutation doping (NTD) and thermal treatment at 940 degreesC for 4 h and then 700 degreesC for 2 h, two-step heating of the floating-zone silicon (FZ Si) grown in a hydrogen (H,) ambience. By surface modification with stannic chloride or amine immersion and rapid thermal oxidation (RTO), the PL peak position from the PS can be qualitatively controlled factitiously. The as-prepared PS shows an orange-yellow luminescence, while the modified samples emit red, green and blue luminescence. Mechanisms for the different colors of the PL are discussed. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) is carried out to analyze the differences in the structural configuration of the PS samples.

The light-enhanced NO_2 sensing properties of porous silicon gas sensors at room temperature

The NO2 gas sensing behavior of porous silicon（PS） is studied at room temperature with and without ultraviolet（UV） light radiation.The PS layer is fabricated by electrochemical etching in an HF-based solution on a p ＋-type silicon substrate.Then,Pt electrodes are deposited on the surface of the PS to obtain the PS gas sensor.The NO2 sensing properties of the PS with different porosities are investigated under UV light radiation at room temperature.The measurement results show that the PS gas sensor has a much higher response sensitivity and faster response-recovery characteristics than NO2 under the illumination.The sensitivity of the PS sample with the largest porosity to 1 ppm NO2 is 9.9 with UV light radiation,while it is 2.4 without UV light radiation.We find that the ability to absorb UV light is enhanced with the increase in porosity.The PS sample with the highest porosity has a larger change than the other samples.Therefore,the effect of UV radiation on the NO2 sensing properties of PS is closely related to the porosity.

Plasmonic characteristics of suspended graphene-coated wedge porous silicon nanowires with Ag partition

We investigate a graphene-coated nanowire waveguide(GCNW) composed of two suspended wedge porous silicon nanowires and a thin Ag partition. The plasmonic characteristics of the proposed structure in terahertz(THz) frequency band are simulated by the finite element method(FEM). The parameters including the gap between the nanowires and Ag partition, the height of the nanowire, the thickness of the Ag partition, and the Fermi level of graphene, are optimized. The simulation results show that a normalized mode field area of ~10-4 and a figure of merit of ~100 can be achieved. Compared with the cylindrical GCNW and isolated GCNW, the proposed wedge GCNW has good electric field enhancement.A waveguide sensitivity of 32.28 is obtained, which indicates the prospects of application in refractive index(RI) sensing in THz frequency band. Due to the adjustable plasmonic characteristics by changing the Fermi level(EF), the proposed structure has promising applications in the electro-optic modulations, optical interconnects, and optical switches.

RECTIFYING EFFECT OF POLYANILINE(PANI)/N-TYPE POROUS SILICONE HETEROJUNCTION

Heterojunctions between polyaniline (PANI) and n-type porous silicon (PS), Al/PS-PANI/Au cell, were fabricated, and the rectifying parameters of this heterojunction diode were measured as a function of the preparation conditions of PANI and PS, the electronic structure of PANI as well as cell structure. The rectifying parameters of Al/PS-PANI/Au cell were determined to be gamma = 1.8x10(1) similar to 1.0x10(5) for the rectifying ratio at 3V, n = 3 similar to 12 for the ideal factor, j(0) = 8.0x10(-5) similar to 5.6x10(-2) mA/cm(2) for the reversed saturated current density, and phi(0) = 0.67 similar to 0.83 V for the barrier height, respectively. The best rectifying heterojunction diode made between PANI and n-type PS with higher rectifying factor (gamma = 1.0x10(5) at 3V), output current (>1500 mA/cm(2) at 3V) and lower ideal factor (n = 3.3) was obtained by preventing the oxidation of PS before evaporating Al electrode.

Preparation and room temperature NO_2-sensing performances of porous silicon/V_2O_5nanorods

In this paper, porous silicon/V205 nanorod composites are prepared by a heating process of as-sputtered V film on porous silicon （PS） at 600 ℃ for different times （15, 30, and 45 min） in air. The morphologies and crystal structures of the samples are investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope （FESEM）, x-ray diffractometer （XRD）, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）, and Raman spectrum （RS）. An improved understanding of the growth process of V205 nanorods on PS is presented. The gas sensing properties of samples are measured for NO2 gas of 0.25 ppm-3 ppm at 25 ℃. We investigate the effects of the annealing time on the NO2-sensing performances of the samples. The sample obtained at 600 ℃ for 30 min exhibits a very strong response and fast response-recovery rate to ppm level NO2, indicating a p-type semiconducting behavior. The XPS analysis reveals that the heating process for 30 rain produces the biggest number of oxygen vacancies in the nanorods, which is highly beneficial to gas sensing. The significant NO2 sensing performance of the sample obtained at 600 ℃ for 30 rain probably is due to the strong amplification effect of the heterojunction between PS and V205 and a large number of oxygen vacancies in the nanorods.

Effect of Pore Structures on the Electrochemical Performance of Porous Silicon Synthesized from Magnesiothermic Reduction of Biosilica

Two kinds of porous silicon（PS） were synthesized by magnesiothermic reduction of rice husk silica（RHS） derived from the oxidization of rice husks（RHs）. One was obtained from oxidization/reduction at 500 ℃ of the unleached RHs, the other was synthesized from oxidization/reduction at 650 ℃ of the acidleached RHs. The structural difference of the above PS was compared： the former had a high pore volume（PV, 0.31 cm3/g） and a large specific surface area（SSA, 45.2 m^2/g）, 138 % and 17 % higher than the latter, respectively. As anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the former had reversible capacity of 1 400.7 m Ah/g, 987 m Ah/g lower than the latter; however, after 50 cycles, the former had 64.5 % capacity retention（907 m Ah/g）, which was 41.2 % higher than the latter（555.7 m Ah/g）. These results showed that the electrochemical performance of PS was significantly affected by its pore structures, and low reduction temperature played the key role in increasing its porosity, and therefore improving its cycling performance.

A Method for Preparation of Ordered Porous Silicon Based on a 2D SiO_2 Template

A new method for fabricating ordered porous silicon is reported. A two-dimensional silica nanosphere array is used as a template with a hydrofluoric acid-hydrogen peroxide solution for etching the nanospheres. The initial diameter and distribution of the holes in the resulting porous silicon layer are determined by the size and distribution of the silica nanospheres. The corrosion time can be used to control the depths of the holes. It is found that the presence of a SiO2 layer, formed by the oxidation of the rough internal surface of the hole, is the primary reason allowing the corrosion to proceed. Ultraviolet reflection and thermal conductivity measurements show that the diameter and distribution of the holes have a great influence on properties of the porous silicon.

HETEROJUNCTION DIODES OF POROUS SILICON WITH SOLUBLE POLYANILINE

Two kinds of heterojunction diodes of porous silicon (PS) with soluble polyaniline (PANI) were fabricated. One is a heterojunction diode of PS with water-soluble copolymer of polyaniline (PAOABSA), Al/PS-PAOABSA/Au cell as rectifying diode. Another is a heterojunction diode of PS with soluble polyaniline doped with DBSA, Al/PS-PANI (DBSA)/Au cell as light emitting diode (LED). The rectifying characteristics of the rectifying diodes were measured as a function of the degree of sulfonation and thickness of the copolymers, as well as oxidation of PS. The rectifying ratio of the heterojunction can reach 5.0x10(4) at +/-3 V bias. For the LED, the photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) spectra were measured and discussed.

Charge transfer on porous silicon membranes studied by current-sensing atomic force microscopy

A visible rectification effect on the current-voltage curves of metal/porous silicon/p-silicon has been observed by current-sensing atomic force microscopy. The current-voltage curves of porous silicon membranes with different porosities, prepared through variation of etching current density for a constant time, indicate that a higher porosity results in a higher resistance and thus a lower rectification, until the current reaches a threshold at a porosity 〉55%. We propose that the conductance mode in the porous silicon membrane with porosities 〉55% is mainly a hopping mechanism between nano-crystallites and an inverse static electric field between the porous silicon and p-Si interface blocks the electron injection from porous silicon to p-Si, but with porosities ≤55%, electron flows through a direct continuous channel between nano-crystallites.

Synthesis and room-temperature NO_2 gas sensing properties of a WO_3 nanowires/porous silicon hybrid structure

We report on the fabrication and performance of a room-temperature NO2 gas sensor based on a WO3 nanowires/porous silicon hybrid structure. The W18O49 nanowires are synthesized directly from a sputtered tungsten film on a porous silicon （PS） layer under heating in an argon atmosphere. After a carefully controlled annealing treatment, WO3 nanowires are obtained on the PS layer without losing the morphology. The morphology, phase structure, and crystallinity of the nanowires are investigated by using field emission scanning electron microscopy （FESEM）, X-ray diffractometer （XRD）, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy （HRTEM）. Comparative gas sensing results indicate that the sensor based on the WO3 nanowires exhibits a much higher sensitivity than that based on the PS and pure WO3 nanowires in detecting NO2 gas at room temperature. The mechanism of the WO3 nanowires/PS hybrid structure in the NO2 sensing is explained in detail.

An Approach for Preparation of Porous Silicon/Rare Earth Hybrid——Immersion Method

A simple but effective doping method, immersion method, was presented. Rare earth complexes [Na3Tb（DPA）3·9H2O and Na3Eu（DPA）3·9H2O] were introduced into porous silicon （PS）, where H2DPA is 2,6-dicarboxy pyridine acid. Rare earths were proved to dope into PS effectively by photoluminescence （PL） and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy （EDS）. And the prepared hybrid samples of PS/RE were found to emit intense room-temperature red and green luminescence while the luminescence of porous silicon are almost thoroughly quenched.

Fabrication of CoFe_2O_4 ferrite nanowire arrays in porous silicon template and their local magnetic properties

CoFe_2O_4 ferrite nanowire arrays are fabricated in porous silicon templates. The porous silicon templates are prepared via metal-assisted chemical etching with gold（Au） nanoparticles as the catalyst. Subsequently, CoFe_2O_4 ferrite nanowires are successfully synthesized into porous silicon templates by the sol–gel method. The magnetic hysteresis loop of nanowire array shows an isotropic feature of magnetic properties. The coercivity and squareness ratio（M_r/M_s） of ensemble nanowires are found to be 630 Oe（1 Oe = 79.5775 A·m^（-1） and 0.4 respectively. However, the first-order reversal curve（FORC） is adopted to reveal the probability density function of local magnetostatic properties（i.e., interwire interaction field and coercivity）. The FORC diagram shows an obvious distribution feature for interaction field and coercivity. The local coercivity with a value of about 1000 Oe is found to have the highest probability.

Study on Porous Silicon with P-N Junction Sensor for Humidity Measurement

Porous materials used for humidity sensing have been commercialized.In this paper,the preparation and humidity sensing characteristics of porous silicon with P-N junctions (PNJPS)are studied.PNJPS is made by electro-chemical anodic etched method from silicon wafers with P-N junctions.Its porous structure is verified by scanning electronic micrograph. Experiments also show that PNJPS has high sensitivity,short response time (less than 30 seconds),and long-term stability.

Anomalous Emission And Carrier Effect of Fresh Porous Silicon

The emission and Fourier transformation infrared spectra of freshly prepared porous silicon(PS) and the silicon wafer were examined. Increasing temperature generally led to a decrease in the emission intensities of the PS samples, however, the freshly prepared sample showed an unusually large and sudden increase in its emission intensity at the specific temperature at which the hydrogen ion conductivity in the silicon wafer increased. The O-H vibrations of the silicon wafer also showed a sudden decrease at the same temperature. These results are consistent with the assumption that the luminescence of fresh PS comes from the carrier bound exciton in its confined nanostructure.

Porous Silicon as a Carrier of Sensing Materials in Sensors

Novel potassium ion selective electrodes (K^+ISEs) and cDNA array sensors based on porous silicon (PS) have been developed.The calibration curve for the K^+ISEs is linear within a wide range of pK=2.0～6.0 with the slope of 56 mV per decade,which is near Nernst response.The response time and detection limit are within 31 s and 0.5μmol/L,respectively.The selective coefficient for Na^+ is-3.8,satisfies the requirement for the assay of blood potassium.The response variation is within 2 mV during 2 months.The binding capacity,the dynamic range and the detection limit of the DNA sensors were improved by replacing glass slide with PS substrates.The cDNA array sensors can bear 80℃of high temperature,75% of humidity,3.6 kLx of irradiation and keep stable within 10 days when they are exposed in air.Good performances of the K^+ISE and the cDNA array sensor are attributed to the large internal surface area and the easily modified microstructure of PS.

FORMATION AND PROPERTIES 0F POROUS SILICON LAYER ON HEAVILY DOPED n-Si

The anodic voltammetric curves of heavily doped n-Si in HF solution, on which three different regions have emerged, and were plotted, A porous silicon layer with fine morphology was formed in linear region.

Investigation of HNO_3 Chemincally Oxidized Porous Silicon

The stability of the photoluminescence (PS) has evidently improvedby HNO3 chemical oxidation The PL intensity and peak wavelength of PS were changed with theHNO3 of HNO3 concentration and oxidation time. Being different from other oxidation time. Being different from other oxidized ways, the PSoxidized by HNO3 remains remains sensitive to adsorbates. FTTR spectroscopic data suggest that these phenomena are attributed to the presence of HSi(SiaO30a)(a≤3)layer on PS surface.

Potential Alzheimer’s disease therapeutic nano-platform: Discovery of amyloid-beta plaque disaggregating agent and brain-targeted delivery system using porous silicon nanoparticles

There has been a lot of basic and clinical research on Alzheimer’s disease(AD)over the last 100 years,but its mechanisms and treatments have not been fully clarified.Despite some controversies,the amyloid-beta hypothesis is one of the most widely accepted causes of AD.In this study,we disclose a new amyloid-beta plaque disaggregating agent and an AD brain-targeted delivery system using porous silicon nanoparticles(pSiNPs)as a therapeutic nano-platform to overcome AD.We hypothesized that the negatively charged sulfonic acid functional group could disaggregate plaques and construct a chemical library.As a result of the in vitro assay of amyloid plaques and library screening,we confirmed that 6-amino-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid(ANA)showed the highest efficacy for plaque disaggregation as a hit compound.To confirm the targeted delivery of ANA to the AD brain,a nano-platform was created using porous silicon nanoparticles(pSiNPs)with ANA loaded into the pore of pSiNPs and biotin-polyethylene glycol(PEG)surface functionalization.The resulting nano-formulation,named Biotin-CaCl2-ANA-pSiNPs(BCAP),delivered a large amount of ANA to the AD brain and ameliorated memory impairment of the AD mouse model through the disaggregation of amyloid plaques in the brain.This study presents a new bioactive small molecule for amyloid plaque disaggregation and its promising therapeutic nano-platform for AD brain-targeted delivery.

Graphene-encapsulated blackberry-like porous silicon nanospheres prepared by modest magnesiothermic reduction for high-performance lithium-ion battery anode

Porous silicon(Si)nanostructures have aroused much interest as lithium-ion battery anodes because of the large space to accommodate the volume change in lithiation and delithiation and shorter ion transfer distance.However,fabrication of porous structures tends to be difficult to control and complex,so,the final electrochemical performance can be compromised.Herein,a modest magnesiothermic reduction(MMR)reaction is demonstrated to produce blackberry-like porous Si nanospheres(PSSs)controllably using magnesium silicide(Mg_(2)Si)as Mg source and SiO_(2)nanospheres as the reactant.This improved MR method provides good control of the kinetics and heat release compared to the traditional MR(TMR)method using Mg powder as the reactant.The PSSs obtained by MMR reaction has higher structural integrity than that fabricated by TMR.After encapsulation with reduced graphene oxide,the Si/C composite exhibits superior cycling stability and rates such as a high reversible capacity of 1034 mAh·g^(-1)at0.5 C(4200 mAh·g^(-1)at 1.0 C)after 1000 cycles,capacity retention of 79.5%,and high rate capacity of 497 mAh·g^(-1)at 2.0 C.This strategy offers a new route to fabricate highperformance porous Si anodes and can be extended to other materials such as germanium.