Passivation of Si nanocrystals in SiO2: Atomic versus molecular hydrogen

Photoluminescence measurements were used to investigate the effect of atomic and molecular hydrogen on the passivation of Si nanocrystals in SiO2. Significant increases in the luminescence intensity and lifetime were found in samples coated with a thin Al layer prior to a standard anneal in molecular hydrogen. This is shown to be consistent with enhanced passivation of the nanocrystals by atomic hydrogen.