Abstract:
The invention provides a method for forming silicon nanowires and composites in polymers. In a preferred method of the invention, a device quality silicon layer that is on a silicon on oxide substrate is etched with an HF/silver nitrate etching solution to form silicon nanowires attached to an oxide layer of the silicon on oxide substrate. A silver film that forms during the etching is easily removed. The nanowires are released from the surface of the oxide via a brief HF acid treatment and gentle agitation. Uniform length nanowires form having a length that is equal to the thickness of the device quality silicon layer. The nanowires that form have pure crystalline silicon structure with no bulk contamination, and any residual silver on the surface of the nanowires after fabrication can be easily removed by selective etching.
Abstract:
A UV detector (10) has a UV detection thin film of coated spherical silicon nanoparticles formed upon a substrate (12). The detector includes structures to bias the thin film. In preferred embodiments, a thin conductor (18) that is at least semi-transparent to UV radiation is formed over the thin film. In preferred embodiments, the UV detector is formed as a silicon based integration, upon a device quality silicon wafer (40).
Abstract:
A UV detector (10) has a UV detection thin film of coated spherical silicon nanoparticles formed upon a substrate (12). The detector includes structures to bias the thin film. In preferred embodiments, a thin conductor (18) that is at least semi-transparent to UV radiation is formed over the thin film. In preferred embodiments, the UV detector is formed as a silicon based integration, upon a device quality silicon wafer (40).