Aluminum nanoparticles for plasmon-improved coupling of light into silicon

Nanotechnology. 2012 Mar 2;23(8):085202. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/23/8/085202. Epub 2012 Feb 1.

Abstract

This paper investigates the improved photo-current response obtained by depositing Al nanoparticles on top of a Si diode. Well defined Al nanodiscs with a diameter and height of 100 nm are produced on the surface of a Si diode using electron-beam lithography, and the change in photo-current generation is characterized. A blue shift of the photo-current response is demonstrated, substantially improving the relation between gains and losses compared to what is typically observed in similar schemes using Ag nanoparticles. Enhanced photo-current response is observed in diodes with Al particles on the surface at all wavelengths larger than ≈465 nm, thereby minimizing the losses in the blue range usually reported with Ag nanoparticles on the surface.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum / chemistry*
  • Aluminum / radiation effects
  • Electric Power Supplies*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Light
  • Materials Testing
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / radiation effects
  • Semiconductors*
  • Silicon / chemistry*
  • Silicon / radiation effects
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / instrumentation*

Substances

  • Aluminum
  • Silicon