X-ray absorption study of light emitting silicon nanocrystals.

X-ray absorption spectra obtained by total electron yield (TEY) at the Si absorption K-edge have been measured to have chemical and structural information about Si nanocrystals (Si-nc) produced by plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD). The TEY technique has been employed to investigate the formation of Si-nc and the modification of the silica matrix as a function of annealing temperature (500-1250degreesC) and of silicon content in the film (35-46 at%). The amount of silicon present in the Si-nc has been evaluated by TEY. Thanks to Rutherford backscattering spectrometry measurements, the amount of Si atoms bonded to oxygen and to nitrogen, incorporated by PECVD, has been assessed. A compositional model that interprets the experimental findings is presented.