Imaging and spectroscopy of defect luminescence and electron-phonon coupling in single SiO2 nanoparticles.
Silicon nanocrystals were synthesized by CO(2) laser pyrolysis of SiH(4). The fresh silicon nanopowder was oxidized in water to obtain SiO(2) nanoparticles (NPs) exhibiting strong red-orange photoluminescence. Samples of SiO(2) NPs embedded in low concentration in a thin polymer layer were prepared by spin-coating a dedicated solution on quartz cover slides. Using an argon ion laser at 488 nm with higher-order laser modes (azimuthally and radially polarized doughnut modes) for excitation, the three-dimensional orientation of the nanoparticles' transition dipole moment was investigated in a confocal microscope. The linear transition dipole moment was found to be rather stable and randomly oriented. However, dynamical effects such as fluorescence intermittency and transition dipole moment flipping could also be observed. The spectral analysis of single SiO(2) NPs revealed double-peak spectra consisting of a narrow zero-phonon line and a broader phonon band being associated with the excitation of longitudinal optical phonons in the SiO(2) NP.
Chizhik
Anna M
AM
Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Tubingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, D-72076 Tubingen, Germany.
Chizhik
Alexey I
AI
Gutbrod
Raphael
R
Meixner
Alfred Johann
AJ
Schmidt
Torsten
T
Sommerfeld
Jana
J
Huisken
Friedrich
F
D001128:Argon / Q000737:chemistry; D004583:Electrons; D007834:Lasers; D049449:Luminescence; D008422:Materials Testing; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010316:Particle Size; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
D001128:Argon; D012822:Silicon Dioxide