In situ size measurement of Si nanoparticles and formation dynamics after laser ablation

We have developed a technique to detect Si nanoparticles selectively and to measure size in situ. Applying the technique, we have investigated formation process of Si nanoparticles after pulsed laser ablation of Si targets in Ar gas. Time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy revealed that PL only from Si nanoparticles is observed below 2.4 eV while PL from Si nanoparticles as well as defects in SiO2 is observed above 2.4 eV. Therefore, Si nanoparticles can be detected selectively by excitation light with a photon energy below 2.4 eV. It is found that the onset of the PL from Si nanoparticles is delayed by approximately 0.3 ms from that of the defects and smaller Si nanoparticles. A size can be estimated by a band gap, which is roughly equal to the lowest photon energy at which Si nanoparticles can be excited. Thus, we estimated the sizes of growing Si nanoparticles.