Fabrication of Si nanoparticles from Si swarf and application to solar cells

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 312; pp. 39 - 42
• Main Authors: MAEDA, Masanori, IMAMURA, Kentaro, MATSUMOTO, Taketoshi, KOBAYASHI, Hikaru
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier 01-09-2014
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Crystal structure; Exact sciences and technology; Nanoparticles; Nitric acid; Photovoltaic cells; Physics; Silicon; Silicon dioxide; Solar cells; Swarf; Solar cells; Nanoparticles; Nanoparticle; Si; Swarf; X-ray diffraction; Silicon; XRD; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; X-ray photoelectron spectra
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2014.02.131

Si nanoparticles with diameter of 1-20nm have been fabricated from Si swarf by use of a beads milling method. Treatment with dilute hydrofluoric acid stabilizes Si nanoparticles, and the thickness of the SiO2 layer formed by leaving nanoparticles in air for one week is only 1.2nm. p-Si nanoparticles/crystalline n-Si structure shows rectifying behavior, indicating formation of pn-junction. Treatment with nitric acid followed by heating at 900 degree C greatly decreases series resistance, showing that the ultrathin SiO2 layer formed by nitric acid oxidation melts and is bound to surrounding nanoparticles. p-type Si nanoparticles/n-type crystalline Si structure shows rectifying behavior and the photovoltaic effect, indicating that Si nanoparticles are applicable to solar cells.