Chemical Modification of the Porous Silicon Surface

ABSTRACTThe porous silicon (PS) surface is derivatized with ethanol, triethylsilanol and formic acid as well as oxidized with water. The two reactions used to prepare these surfaces are discussed, and FTIR spectra of the products are presented. Surface-modified PS retains 10-40% of its original photoluminescence. PS-derivatives display reversible luminescence quenching by gas phase water, ethanol, acetonitrile and benzene. The extent of quenching varies with different PS-derivatives depending on the interaction of the chemical vapor with the modified PS surfaces.