Optical properties of mesoporous 4H-SiC prepared by anodic electrochemical etching

Porous silicon carbide was fabricated from n-type 4H-SiC substrates via anodic electrochemical etching in HF/ethanol solution and suspended in ethanol after ultrasonication. We observed three photoluminescence bands: two at wavelengths of 303 nm and 345 nm were above the bulk bandgap and one at 455 nm was below the bulk bandgap. These blue-shifted and red-shifted emission processes reveal the interplay between quantum confinement, surface states, and band edge related optical transitions. We propose a model to explain the frequently observed deviation from the quantum confinement in the photoluminesence trends for SiC-derived nanoparticles suspended in solvents. The quantum confined properties of the SiC structures provide a route for optical tunability in the UV-blue spectrum for use in novel photonic and biomedical applications.