Silicon quantum wire array fabrication by electrochemical and chemical dissolution of wafersLeigh Canham|Applied Physics Letters|1990 Indirect evidence is presented that free-standing Si quantum wires can be fabricated without the use of epitaxial deposition or lithography. The novel approach uses electrochemical and chemical dissolution steps to define networks of isolated wires out of bulk wafers. Mesoporous Si layers of high porosity exhibit visible (red) photoluminescence at room temperature, observable with the naked eye under <1 mW unfocused (<0.1 W cm−2) green or blue laser line excitation. This is attributed to dramatic two-dimensional quantum size effects which can produce emission far above the band gap of bulk crystalline Si.
The structural and luminescence properties of porous siliconA large amount of work world-wide has been directed towards obtaining an understanding of the fundamental characteristics of porous Si. Much progress has been made following the demonstration in 1990 that highly porous material could emit very efficient visible photoluminescence at room temperature. Since that time, all features of the structural, optical and electronic properties of the material have been subjected to in-depth scrutiny. It is the purpose of the present review to survey the work which has been carried out and to detail the level of understanding which has been attained. The key importance of crystalline Si nanostructures in determining the behaviour of porous Si is highlighted. The fabrication of solid-state electroluminescent devices is a prominent goal of many studies and the impressive progress in this area is described.
Visible light emission due to quantum size effects in highly porous crystalline siliconProperties of Porous SiliconPorous silicon has been the focus of much research activity in recent years, in view of its luminescence, which may enable light emitting devices to be integrated with silicon chips. This work comprises over 50 commissioned essays on the subject from scientists in Europe, America and Japan .
Bioactive silicon structure fabrication through nanoetching techniquesLeigh Canham|Advanced Materials|1995 A microporous film of silicon is shown to induce hydroxyapatite growth both on itself and on neighboring areas of bulk silicon (e.g. see figure). This indicates that silicon could be developed as an active biomaterial, which has encouraging implications for the use of VLSI technology in, for example, invasive sensing and biosensing and other electronic prosthetic devices magnified image .