Influence of a high electric field on the photoluminescence from silicon nanocrystals in SiO2

The influence of the application of a high electric field on the radiative recombination of an electron–hole pair in a silicon nanocrystal in SiO2 has been investigated experimentally by examining the photoluminescence emission under the influence of the field. It was found that the PL signal was first slightly red-shifted at relatively low-fields and it was then blue-shifted at higher fields. PL degradation was also observed which was partially restored after removal of the electric field. This behavior has been attributed to the quantum-confined Stark effect, combined with Auger quenching and charge escape from the nanocrystals.