Nanocomposite materials from porous silicon

The open porous structure and the very large specific surface area of porous silicon have motivated scientists to introduce different materials into the pores, forming composite structures devoted to different applications relying on the luminescence properties or the sensing capability of the resulting nanostructures. In this paper, the various composite structures that have been formed from porous silicon layers in recent years are reviewed, by focusing on the different methods used for deposition: dry processes, impregnation by contact with a liquid, chemical bath deposition or electrochemical deposition. Special attention is given to the particular requirements and specific drawbacks of each process.