The Infiltration of Silver Nanoparticles into Porous Silicon for Improving the Performance of Photonic Devices

Hybrid nanostructures have a great potential to improve the overall properties of photonic devices. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were infiltrated into nanostructured porous silicon (PSi) layers, aiming at enhancing the optoelectronic performance of Si-based devices. More specifically, Schottky diodes with three different configurations were fabricated, using Al/Si/Au as the basic structure. This structure was modified by adding PSi and PSi + AgNPs layers. Their characteristic electrical parameters were accurately determined by fitting the current–voltage curves to the non-ideal diode equation. Furthermore, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to determine the electrical parameters of the diodes in a wide frequency range by fitting the Nyquist plots to the appropriate equivalent circuit model. The experimental results show a remarkable enhancement in electrical conduction after the incorporation of metallic nanoparticles. Moreover, the spectral photoresponse was examined for various devices. An approximately 10-fold increment in photoresponse was observed after the addition of Ag nanoparticles to the porous structures.

Nanoporous Layers and the Peculiarities of Their Local Formation on a Silicon Wafer

This review presents the results of the local formation of nanostructured porous silicon (NPSi) on the surface of silicon wafers by anodic etching using a durite intermediate ring. The morphological and crystallographic features of NPSi structures formed on n- and p-type silicon with low and relatively high resistivity have also been investigated. The proposed scheme allows one to experiment with biological objects (for example, stem cells, neurons, and other objects) in a locally formed porous structure located in close proximity to the electronic periphery of sensor devices on a silicon wafer.

Synthesis and Introducing Au-Cu Alloy Nanoparticles/Porous Silicon as a Novel Modifier of Screen Printed Carbon Electrode in Simultaneous Electrocatalytic Detection of Codeine and Acetaminophen

In the present study, a bimetallic nanostructure of gold-copper (Au-CuNPs) was decorated on the surface of porous silicon (PSi) using an easy galvanic replacement reaction between metal ions and PSi in the presence of 0.1 M hydrofluoric acid solution. The morphology and structures of the Au-CuNPs@PSi nanocomposite were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques. Then, prepared nanocomposite was used as a modifier in screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) for the highly sensitive simultaneous determination of codeine (COD) and acetaminophen (ACE). The combination of PSi and metals nanoparticles provide a porous and high surface area with excellent electrical conductivity which leads to reduce the peak potentials and enhance the oxidation peak currents of COD and ACE at the surface of the Au-CuNPs@PSi/SPCE nanosensor. The dynamic linear ranges were obtained from 0.06 to 0.6 µM for both COD and ACE and the detection limits (3.0 S/N) estimated 0.35 µM for COD and 0.30 µM for ACE, respectively. Moreover, recovery tests were carried out in real samples such as urine, human blood plasma, and tablets.