Silicon nanowire hot carrier electroluminescence

• We investigate effect of electric field on silicon avalanche electroluminescence.
• With reach-through pn junctions the current and carrier densities are kept constant.
• Higher electric fields increase short wavelength radiation.
• Higher electric fields decrease long wavelength radiation.
• The effect of the electric field indicates intraband transitions as main mechanism.

Avalanche electroluminescence from silicon pn junctions has been known for many years. However, the internal quantum efficiencies of these devices are quite low due to the indirect band gap nature of the semiconductor material. In this study we have used reach-through biasing and SOI (silicon-on-insulator) thin film structures to improve the internal power efficiency and the external light extraction efficiency. Both continuous silicon thin film pn junctions and parallel nanowire pn junctions were manufactured using a custom SOI technology. The pn junctions are operated in the reach-through mode of operation, thus increasing the average electric field within the fully depleted region. Experimental results of the emission spectrum indicate that the most dominant photon generating mechanism is due to intraband hot carrier relaxation processes. It was found that the SOI nanowire light source external power efficiency is at least an order of magnitude better than the comparable bulk CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) light source.