Sains Malaysiana 38(1): 77-83(2009)

Optimization of Fluorescent Silicon Nanomaterial Production

Using Peroxide/Acid/Salt Technique

(Pengoptimuman Penghasilan Nanobahan Silikon Berpendaflour

Menggunakan Teknik Peroksida/Asid/Garam)

Laila H. Abuhassan

Department of Physics, Faculty of Science

University of Jordan, Jubeiha, Amman 11942, Jordan

Received:    30 January 2008 / Accepted:   13 June 2008

ABSTRACT

Silicon nanomaterial was prepared using the peroxide/acid/salt technique in which an aqueous silicon-based salt solution was added to H₂O₂/HF etchants. In order to optimize the experimental conditions for silicon nanomaterial production, the amount of nanomaterial produced was studied as a function of the volume of the silicon salt solution used in the synthesis. A set of samples was prepared using: 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mL of an aqueous 1 mg/L metasilicate solution. The area under the corresponding peaks in the infrared (ir) absorption spectra was used as a qualitative indicator to the amount of the nanomaterial present. The results indicated that using 10 mL of the metasilicate solution produced the highest amount of nanomaterial. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that the peroxide/acid/salt technique results in the enhancement of the production yield of silicon nanomaterial at a reduced power demand and with a higher material to void ratio. A model in which the silicon salt forms a secondary source of silicon nanomaterial is proposed. The auxiliary nanomaterial is deposited into the porous network causing an increase in the amount of nanomaterial produced and a reduction in the voids present. Thus a reduction in the resistance of the porous layer, and consequently reduction in the power required, are expected.     

Keywords: infrared;  peroxide/acid/salt; silicon nanomaterial; silicate

ABSTRAK

Nanobahan Si telah disediakan daripada teknik campuran peroksida/asid/garam yang melibatkan penambahan larutan akueus berasaskan silika kepada pemunar H₂O₂/HF. Untuk mengoptimumkan keadaan eksperimen penghasilan nanobahan Si, kuantiti nanobahan yang dihasilkan dikaji sebagai fungsi isipadu larutan garam Si yang digunakan dalam sintesis yang dilakukan. Beberapa set sampel disediakan dengan menggunakan 0, 5, 10, 15, dan 20 mL larutan akueus 1 mg/L metasilikat. Luas kawasan di bawah puncak sepadan spektra penyerapan inframerah digunakan sebagai penunjuk kuantitatif terhadap amaun penghasilan nanobahan Si. Keputusan yang diperolehi menunjukkan penggunaan 10 mL larutan metasilikat menghasilkan amaun nanobahan yang tertinggi. Diperhatikan juga teknik campuran peroksida/asid/garam yang digunakan dapat meningkatkan perolehan hasil nanobahan Si pada keperluan kuasa yang rendah selain dapat menghasilkan nisbah bahan terhadap liang yang lebih tinggi. Satu model yang mana garam Si membentuk sumber sekunder Si disarankan di dalam artikel ini. Penggunaan nanobahan tambahan yang diendapkan ke atas jaringan poros menyebabkan peningkatan amaun nanobahan yang dihasilkan yang sekaligus mengurangkan pembentukan liang. Oleh itu, pengurangan rintangan lapisan poros dan seterusnya pengurangan permintaan kuasa adalah dijangkakan.

Kata kunci: infra-merah; nanobahan Si; peroksida/asid/garam; silikat

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