Surface control of luminescence in silicon nanoparticles

The intensity of visible photoluminescence from thin films of silicon nanoparticles was found to be dependent upon the degree of surface passivation on the nanoparticles, while the emission energy was independent of the specific chemical properties of the passivating species. All findings were consistent with a simple quantum confinement model of emission where particle size determines emission energy and surface passivation determines emission intensity.