Understanding the Formation Mechanisms of Silicon Particles from the Thermal Disproportionation of Hydrogen Silsesquioxane.

ABSTRACT: Crystalline silicon particles sustaining Mie resonances are readily obtained from the thermal processing of hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ). Here, the mechanisms involved in silicon particle formation and growth from HSQ are investigated through real-time in situ analysis using an environmental transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer. The nucleation of Si nanodomains is observed starting around 1000 °C. For the first time, a highly mobile intermediate phase is experimentally observed, thus demonstrating a previously unknown growth mechanism. At least two growth processes occur simultaneously: the coalescence of small particles into larger particles and growth mode by particle displacement through the matrix toward the HSQ grain surface. Postsynthetic characterization

SUBMITTER: Cibaka-Ndaya C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10601469 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature