STRUCTURAL AND OPTICAL FEATURES OF POROUS SILICON PREPARED BY ELECTROCHEMICAL ANODIC ETCHING

Abstract

Porous silicon (PS) samples were prepared by electrochemical anodic etching of n-type (111) silicon wafers in HF solution. The structural, optical, and chemical features of the PS were investigated in terms of different etching durations. The porous samples were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence (PL), and Raman scattering. SEM images indicated that the pores increased with the etching duration; however, the etching duration has significant effect on the shape of the pores. PL measurements revealed that the porosity-induced PL intensity enhancement was only observed in the porous samples. Raman spectra showed shifting of PS Raman peak to lower frequency relative to non-porous silicon Raman peak.