Sains Malaysiana 39(5)(2010): 837–844

Enhancement of the Production Yield of Fluorescent Silicon Nanostructures Using Silicon-Based Salts

(Peningkatan Hasil Pengeluaran Nanostruktur Silikon Berpendarfluor  Menggunakan Garam Berasaskan Silikon)

Laila H. Abuhassan*

Department of Physics, Faculty of Science

University of Jordan, Jubeiha, Amman 11942, Jordan

Received: 21 October 2008 / Accepted: 30 December 2009

ABSTRACT

The increase in the amount of extracted silicon nanostructures resulting from the incorporation of sodium metasilicon salt in the etching solution was investigated. Silicon nanostructures were prepared in the form of thin fluorescent films via anodisation etching of silicon wafers in aqueous HF/H₂O₂ solution in the presence of the silicon-based salt. The quality of the fluorescent films was assessed using several nondestructive analytical techniques. The nanostructures produced were then extracted. The harvested nanostuctures were examined for quantitative elemental analysis using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. This investigation was limited to silicon nanostructures with size ≤ 200 nm. The results indicate that the incorporation of the silicate increased the yield of silicon nanostructures production significantly.

Keywords: Nondestructive characterisation; nanomaterial; silicate; silicon nanostructures

ABSTRAK

Peningkatan amaun nanostruktur silikon yang diperolehi hasil gabungan garam natrium metasilikon di dalam larutan punaran telah dikaji. Nanostruktur silikon disediakan dalam bentuk filem nipis pendarfluor melalui punaran penganodan wafer silikon di dalam larutan akueus HF/H₂O₂ dengan kehadiran garam silikon. Kualiti filem pendarfluor dinilai menggunakan beberapa teknik analisis tanpa musnah. Nanostruktur yang dihasilkan dilakukan analisis kuantitatif bagi unsur-unsur mengggunakan spektrofotometri serapan atom. Kajian ini dihadkan kepada nanostruktur silikon bersaiz ≤ 200 nm. Keputusan menunjukkan kehadiran silikat telah meningkatkan hasil pengeluaran nanostruktur silikon dengan signifikan.

Kata kunci: Nanobahan; nanostruktur silikon; pencirian tanpa musnah, silikat

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*Corresponding author; email: L.abuhassan@ju.edu.jo