Nanowire Arrays in Multicrystalline Silicon Thin Films on Glass: A Promising Material for Research and Applications in Nanotechnology

Schmitt SW, Schechtel F, Amkreutz D, Bashouti M, Srivastava SK, Hoffmann B, Dieker C, Spiecker E, Rech B, Christiansen SH (2012)

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2012

Journal

Nano Letters American Chemical Society

Publisher: American Chemical Society

Book Volume: 12

Pages Range: 4050-4054

Journal Issue: 8

DOI: 10.1021/nl301419q

Abstract

Silicon nanowires (SiNW) were formed on large grained, electron-beam crystallized silicon (Si) thin films of only 6 pm thickness on glass using nanosphere lithography (NSL) in combination with reactive ion etching (RIE). Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies revealed outstanding structural properties of this nanomaterial. It could be shown that SiNWs with entirely predetermined shapes including lengths, diameters and spacings and straight side walls form independently of their crystalline orientation and arrange in ordered arrays on glass. Furthermore, for the first time grain boundaries could be observed in individual, straightly etched SiNWs. After heat treatment an electronic grade surface quality of the SiNWs could be shown by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Integrating sphere measurements show that SiNW patterning of the multicrystalline Si (mc-Si) starting thin film on glass substantially increases absorption and reduces reflection, as being desired for an application in thin film photovoltaics (PV). The multicrystalline SiNWs directly mark a starting point for research not only in PV but also in other areas like nanoelectronics, surface functionalization, and nanomechanics.

Authors with CRIS profile

Christel Dieker Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Mikro- und Nanostrukturforschung) Erdmann Spiecker Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Mikro- und Nanostrukturforschung)

Additional Organisation(s)

Exzellenz-Cluster Engineering of Advanced Materials Interdisziplinäres Zentrum, Center for Nanoanalysis and Electron Microscopy (CENEM)

Involved external institutions

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB) DE Germany (DE) Max-Planck-Institut für die Physik des Lichts (MPL) / Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Schmitt, S.W., Schechtel, F., Amkreutz, D., Bashouti, M., Srivastava, S.K., Hoffmann, B.,... Christiansen, S.H. (2012). Nanowire Arrays in Multicrystalline Silicon Thin Films on Glass: A Promising Material for Research and Applications in Nanotechnology. Nano Letters, 12(8), 4050-4054. https://doi.org/10.1021/nl301419q

MLA:

Schmitt, Sebastian W., et al. "Nanowire Arrays in Multicrystalline Silicon Thin Films on Glass: A Promising Material for Research and Applications in Nanotechnology." Nano Letters 12.8 (2012): 4050-4054.

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