Photonic band-gap effects on photoluminescence of silicon nanocrystals embedded in artificial opals

Abstract

Si nanocrystals were formed in synthetic opals by Si-ion implantation and their optical properties studied using microphotoluminescence and reflection techniques. The properties of areas with high crystalline quality are compared with those of disordered regions of samples. The photoluminescencespectrum from Si nanocrystals embedded in silica spheres is narrowed by the inhibition of emission at wavelengths corresponding to the opalphotonic pseudoband gap (∼690 nm). Measurements of photoluminescencespectra from individual implanted silica spheres is also demonstrated and the number of emitting Si nanocrystals in single brightly emitting spheres is estimated to be of the order of one thousand. Show more