Quantum confinement of E1 and E2 transitions in Ge quantum dots embedded in an Al2O3 or an AlN matrix

Alternating layers of Ge quantum dots embedded in either Al2O3 or AlN matrices were deposited on sapphire substrates by pulsed-laser deposition. The characteristics of the dots are shown to be independent of the surrounding matrix. The dots size (73, 130, 160, and 260 ű5%) was controlled by the laser energy density and deposition time, and was characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The dots were single crystalline with no apparent GeOx interfacial layers. Transmission spectroscopy at room temperature and 77 K was used to probe the above-band-edge absorption of the Ge nanodots. The spectral positions of both E1/E1+Δ1 and E2 transitions were found to shift to higher energy in the absorption spectra with decreasing nanodot sizes. This indicates that strong quantum-confinement effect permits the optical properties of Ge dots to be modified in a controlled manner.