Fp. Dudel et al., PHOTOLUMINESCENCE IN THE EARLIEST STAGES OF POROUS SILICON FORMATION, Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 143(8), 1996, pp. 164-165
The surface topography of (100) p-Si surfaces at the early stages of e
lectrochemical etching is examined and correlated with the visible pho
toluminescence (PL) normally observed from porous silicon. The results
from three electrolytes are compared. PL is observed from the silicon
with etch limes as short as 10 s, well before pores are formed in the
silicon. The topographical changes in the silicon surface are consist
ent with the formation of emitting, constrained surface species (oxyhy
drides), however, nanometer size structures are also present which may
be associated with;he potential for quantum confinement.