Electroluminescence from Si nanocrystal/c-Si heterojunction light-emitting diodes.

Silicon nanocrystals have shown attractive properties for photonic and photovoltaic applications. We demonstrate all-Si light-emitting diodes based on boron-doped Si nanocrystal/c-Si p-n heterojunction structure, which show electroluminescence in the visible/infrared regions. The electroluminescence spectra of these diodes can be modified by changing the quantum confining barriers from SiO2 to Si3N4. Our results are an important demonstration of electroluminescence from boron-doped Si nanocrystals-a wide band gap absorber material for third generation photovoltaics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]