ABSTRACT
This paper deals with the synthesis of high-magnetization porous silicon-based nanocomposites. Using well-controlled organometallic synthesis of ferromagnetic FeCo nanoparticles, the impregnation of mesoporous silicon has been performed by immersion of porous silicon in a colloidal solution. The technique was optimized by controlling the temperature, the immersion duration, and the solvent nature. The characterization of the nanocomposites showed a homogeneous filling of the pores and a high magnetization of 135 emu/cm3. Such composites present a great interest for many applications including data storage, medical instrumentations, catalysis, or electronics.
ABSTRACT
In this paper, we study the thermal oxidation kinetics of mesoporous silicon layers, synthesized by electrochemical anodization, from 260 °C up to 1100 °C. A specific apparatus is employed to heat the mesoporous samples in air and to record at the same time their infrared emittance. Based on Bruggeman effective medium approximation, an optical model is set up to realistically approximate the dielectric function of the porous material with an emphasis on the surface chemistry and oxide content. A transition temperature of 600 °C is evidenced from data processing which gives evidence of two oxidation mechanisms with distinct kinetics. Between 260-600 °C, the oxidation is surface-limited with kinetics dependent on the hydrogen desorption rate. However, above 600 °C, the oxide growth is limited by oxygen diffusion through the existing oxide layer. A parabolic law is employed to fit the oxidation rate and to extract the high-temperature activation energy (EA = 1.5 eV). A precise control of the oxide growth can thus be achieved.
