SIZE DEPENDENCE OF THE QUANTUM YIELD OF PHOTOLUMINESCENCE FROM SILICON NANOCOLLOIDS

We have prepared several nanometer-sized silicon colloids in the range from 3.7 to 9.8 nm with a constant weight density 1 mg/ml. The blue-g reen emission is found to be independent of size contrast to its inten sity. The absolute quantum yield as a function of size is determined. From the proposed model that combines surface as well as volume effect s, the emission is proved to be from a surface trapped site. The energ y transfer efficiency from volume to the site is almost 100% for the 3 .7 nm particle. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(98 )01103-7].