title: Pore size control of ultrathin silicon membranes by rapid thermal carbonization.
abstract: Rapid thermal carbonization in a dilute acetylene (C(2)H(2)) atmosphere has been used to chemically modify and precisely tune the pore size of ultrathin porous nanocrystalline silicon (pnc-Si). The magnitude of size reduction was controlled by varying the process temperature and time. Under certain conditions, the carbon coating displayed atomic ordering indicative of graphene layer formation conformal to the pore walls. Initial experiments show that carbonized membranes follow theoretical predictions for hydraulic permeability and retain the precise separation capabilities of untreated membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Box 270231, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.
authors.forename: David Z
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Christopher C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Striemer
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Gaborski
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: Philippe M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Fauchet