Photodegradation of porous silicon induced by photogenerated singlet oxygen molecules

We report on the mechanism of photodegradation of porous silicon luminescence in ambient containing molecular oxygen. Energy transfer from excitons confined in silicon nanocrystallites to molecular oxygen results in the generation of highly chemically reactive singlet oxygen molecules. The subsequent interaction of singlet oxygen molecules with the hydrogenated surface of silicon nanocrystals results in its photooxidation and the creation of additional nonradiative defects, i.e., the luminescence fatigue effect. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.