Mechanism of quantum dot luminescence excitation within implanted SiO2:Si:C films

Results of the investigation of photoluminescence (PL) mechanisms for silicon dioxide films implanted with ions of silicon (100 keV; 7 x 10(16) cm(-2)) and carbon (50 keV; 7 x 10(15)-1.5 x 10(17) cm(-2)) are presented. The spectral, kinetic and thermal activation properties of the quantum dots (Si, C and SiC) formed by a subsequent annealing were studied by means of time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy under selective synchrotron radiation excitation. Independent quantum dot PL excitation channels involving energy transfer from the SiO2 matrix point defects and excitons were discovered. A resonant mechanism of the energy transfer from the matrix point defects (E' and ODC) is shown to provide the fastest PL decay of nanosecond order. The critical distances (6-9 nm) of energy transport between the bulk defects and nanoclusters were determined in terms of the Inokuti-Hirayama model. An exchange interaction mechanism is realized between the surface defects (E-s'-centres) and the luminescent nanoparticles. The peculiarities of an anomalous PL temperature dependence are explained in terms of a nonradiative energy transfer from the matrix excitons. It is established that resonant transfer to the luminescence centre triplet state is realized in the case of self-trapped excitons. In contrast, the PL excitation via free excitons includes the stages of energy transfer to the singlet state, thermally activated singlet-triplet conversion and radiative recombination.