Investigation of optical effects in silicon quantum dots by using an empirical pseudopotential method

A computer simulation using a pseudopotential approach has been carried out to investigate the band gap as a function of the size and the shape of small silicon (Si) dots having 3 to 44 atoms per dot with and without surface passivation. We used an empirical pseudo-potential Hamiltonian, a plane-wav...

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Main Authors: Ghoshal, S. K., Sahar, Md. Rahim, Rohani, Md. Supar
Format: Article
Published: Korean Physical Society 2011
Subjects:
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author Ghoshal, S. K.
Sahar, Md. Rahim
Rohani, Md. Supar
author_facet Ghoshal, S. K.
Sahar, Md. Rahim
Rohani, Md. Supar
author_sort Ghoshal, S. K.
collection ePrints
description A computer simulation using a pseudopotential approach has been carried out to investigate the band gap as a function of the size and the shape of small silicon (Si) dots having 3 to 44 atoms per dot with and without surface passivation. We used an empirical pseudo-potential Hamiltonian, a plane-wave basis expansion and a basic tetrahedral structure with undistorted local bonding configurations. In our simulation, the structures of the quantum dots were relaxed and optimized before and after passivation. We found that the gap increased more for an oxygenated surface than a hydrogenated one. Thus, both quantum confinement and surface passivation determined the optical and the electronic properties of Si quantum dots. Visible luminescence was probably due to radiative recombination of electrons and holes in the quantum-confined nanostructures. The effect of passivation of the surface dangling bonds by hydrogen and oxygen atoms and the role of surface states on the gap energy was also examined. We investigated the entire energy spectrum starting from the very low-lying ground state to the very high-lying excited states. The results for the sizes of the gap, the density of states, the oscillator strength and the absorption coefficient as functions of the size are presented. The importance of the confinement and the role of surface passivation on the optical effects are also discussed.
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spelling utm.eprints-292352019-09-30T13:41:18Z http://eprints.utm.my/29235/ Investigation of optical effects in silicon quantum dots by using an empirical pseudopotential method Ghoshal, S. K. Sahar, Md. Rahim Rohani, Md. Supar Q Science A computer simulation using a pseudopotential approach has been carried out to investigate the band gap as a function of the size and the shape of small silicon (Si) dots having 3 to 44 atoms per dot with and without surface passivation. We used an empirical pseudo-potential Hamiltonian, a plane-wave basis expansion and a basic tetrahedral structure with undistorted local bonding configurations. In our simulation, the structures of the quantum dots were relaxed and optimized before and after passivation. We found that the gap increased more for an oxygenated surface than a hydrogenated one. Thus, both quantum confinement and surface passivation determined the optical and the electronic properties of Si quantum dots. Visible luminescence was probably due to radiative recombination of electrons and holes in the quantum-confined nanostructures. The effect of passivation of the surface dangling bonds by hydrogen and oxygen atoms and the role of surface states on the gap energy was also examined. We investigated the entire energy spectrum starting from the very low-lying ground state to the very high-lying excited states. The results for the sizes of the gap, the density of states, the oscillator strength and the absorption coefficient as functions of the size are presented. The importance of the confinement and the role of surface passivation on the optical effects are also discussed. Korean Physical Society 2011-02 Article PeerReviewed Ghoshal, S. K. and Sahar, Md. Rahim and Rohani, Md. Supar (2011) Investigation of optical effects in silicon quantum dots by using an empirical pseudopotential method. Journal of the Korean Physical Society, 58 (2). pp. 256-263. ISSN 0374-4884 http://dx.doi.org/10.3938/jkps.58.256 DOI:10.3938/jkps.58.256
spellingShingle Q Science
Ghoshal, S. K.
Sahar, Md. Rahim
Rohani, Md. Supar
Investigation of optical effects in silicon quantum dots by using an empirical pseudopotential method
title Investigation of optical effects in silicon quantum dots by using an empirical pseudopotential method
title_full Investigation of optical effects in silicon quantum dots by using an empirical pseudopotential method
title_fullStr Investigation of optical effects in silicon quantum dots by using an empirical pseudopotential method
title_full_unstemmed Investigation of optical effects in silicon quantum dots by using an empirical pseudopotential method
title_short Investigation of optical effects in silicon quantum dots by using an empirical pseudopotential method
title_sort investigation of optical effects in silicon quantum dots by using an empirical pseudopotential method
topic Q Science
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AT saharmdrahim investigationofopticaleffectsinsiliconquantumdotsbyusinganempiricalpseudopotentialmethod
AT rohanimdsupar investigationofopticaleffectsinsiliconquantumdotsbyusinganempiricalpseudopotentialmethod