The role of surface vibrations and quantum confinement effect to the optical properties of very thin nanocrystalline silicon films

Abstract

We report on a spectroscopic study of very thin nanocrystalline silicon films varying between 5 and 30nm. The role of quantum confinement effect and surface passivation of nanograins in optical properties are examined in detail. The coupling between surface vibrations and fundamental gap Eg as well as the increase of interaction between them at the strong confinement regime (⩽2nm) are proposed for the observable pinning of Eg in luminescence measurements.