Strong light absorption capability directed by structured profile of vertical Si nanowires
| Autor: | Ranjan K. Pati, Indrajit Mukhopadhyay, Abhijit Ray, Harsh A. Chaliyawala |
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| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
Materials science
business.industry Organic Chemistry Nanowire 02 engineering and technology 010402 general chemistry 021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology 01 natural sciences Atomic and Molecular Physics and Optics Light scattering 0104 chemical sciences Electronic Optical and Magnetic Materials Inorganic Chemistry Optics Etching (microfabrication) Dewetting Specular reflection Electrical and Electronic Engineering Physical and Theoretical Chemistry 0210 nano-technology Absorption (electromagnetic radiation) business Refractive index Spectroscopy Light field |
| Zdroj: | Optical Materials. 73:449-458 |
| ISSN: | 0925-3467 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.optmat.2017.08.049 |
| Popis: | Si nanowire arrays (SiNWAs) with random fractal geometry was fabricated using fast, mask-less, non-lithographic and facile approach by incorporating metal assisted electroless etching of n-type Si (111) substrates. The FESEM images demonstrate the formation of nano-porous surfaces that provide effective path for the incoming light to get trapped into the cavity of nanowires. The length of NWs increases from ∼1 to 10 μm with increase in the etching time having a diameter in the range of ∼25–82 nm. A transformation from zero to first order kinetics after a prolonged etching has been determined. The synthesized SiNWAs show high light trapping properties, including a maximum photon absorption across the entire visible and near IR range below the band gap of Si. The SiNWAs etched for 15 min exhibit extremely low specular and total reflectance of ∼0.2% and 4.5%, respectively over a broadband of wavelength. The reduction in the reflection loss is accompanied with the gradient of refractive index from air to Si substrate as well as due to the sub-wavelength structures, which manifests the light scattering effect. The COMSOL multiphysics simulation has been performed to study the high broadband light absorption capability in terms of the strong localized light field confinement by varying the length of the nanowire. Moreover, the SiNWs induces the dewetting ability at the solid/liquid interface and enhances the superhydrophobicity. Furthermore, a maximum length scale of 100–200 nm manifests a strong heterogeneity along the planar section of the surface of SiNWs. The study thus provides an insight on the light propagation into the random fractal geometries of Si nanowires. These outstanding properties should contribute to the structural optimization of various optoelectronic and photonic devices. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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