Photoluminescence enhancement in impurity doped β-FeSi2

Effects of impurity-doping on photoluminescence (PL) properties of ion-beam synthesized (IBS) β-FeSi2 have been investigated. The Al- and B-doped β-FeSi2 showed increase of both PL intensity and activation energy (Ea) for non-radiative recombination path. On the contrary, the Mn and Co doping reduced the PL intensity and Ea. We found that the doping of Al and B atoms which occupy the Si sites in β-FeSi2 is a technique to enhance the 1.54 μm photoluminescence.