Transparent SiC thin films by PEG–SDS-assisted self-assembly of SiC nanoparticles

Transparent SiC thin films were fabricated on polyethylene oxide monolayer (PEOM) on a glass substrate at room temperature through self-assembly process of dispersed SiC nanoparticles in aqueous solution. By simply adding sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) into the solution containing the PEOM glass substrate at room temperature and pH 3, SiC nanoparticles were slowly self-assembled onto the substrate and grown into the thin films due to adsorption of SDS on the surfaces of PEOM-modified substrate and SiC nanoparticles. Photoluminescence (PL) studies of the films showed a strong peak at 640 nm at room temperature.