Microscopic studies of polycrystalline nanoparticle growth in free space

A. Mohan, Monja Kaiser, M.A. Verheijen, R.E.I. Schropp, J.K. Rath

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
126 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

We have extensively studied by multiple microscopic techniques the growth and crystallization of silicon nanoparticles in pulsed SiH4/Ar plasmas. We observe that the crystallinity of the particles can be tuned from amorphous to crystalline by altering the plasma ON time, tON. Three phases can be identified as a function of tON. Microscopic studies reveal that, in the initial gas phase (phase I) single particles of polycrystalline nature are formed which according to our hypothesis grow out of a single nucleus. The individual crystallites of the polycrystalline particles become bigger crystalline regions which marks the onset of cauliflower shaped particles (phase II). At longer tON (phase III) distinct cauliflower particles are formed by the growth of these crystalline regions by local epitaxy.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)137-144
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Crystal Growth
Volume467
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2017

Keywords

  • A1. Crystal structure
  • A1. Crystallites
  • A1. HRTEM (high resolution transmission electron microscopy)
  • A1. Nanostructures
  • A3. Chemical vapor deposition processes
  • Chemical vapor deposition processes
  • Crystallites
  • HRTEM (high resolution transmission electron microscopy)
  • Nanostructures
  • Crystal structure

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