Electroluminescence from ZnO-nanofilm/Si-micropillar heterostructure arrays

Abstract

ZnO-nanofilm/Si-micropillar p-n nanoheterostructure arrays were prepared by growing n-type ZnO onto a p-type nanoporous Si pillar array. Its current-voltage characteristics of nanoheterostructure showed good rectifying behavior with onset voltage of ~1.5 V, forward current density of ~28.7 mA/cm(2) at 2.5 V, leakage current density of ~0.15 mA/cm(2) and rectifying ratio of ~121 at ± 2.5 V. The electron transport across nanohetreostructure obeys the trap-charge-limit current model. Moreover, strong white light electroluminescence from ZnO-nanofilm/Si-micropillar light-emitting diode (LED) has been achieved, which could open up possibilities to build new ZnO/Si-based highly efficient solid-state lighting devices.