Chemical surface modification of porous silicon with palladium and characterizations

Porous silicon (PS) was formed on p-type crystalline silicon of (1 0 0) orientation and 2–5 Ω cm resistivity by the electrochemical anodization method using HF and ethanol as the electrolyte. Adjusting the current density and the HF concentration in the electrolyte the porosity of the samples were varied from 40% to 60%. The porous silicon surface was modified with PdCl2 solution by a low cost chemical method. Both the unmodified and the modified PS were thoroughly characterized by the EDAX analysis, the digital X-ray image mapping and the XPS study. Electrical characteristics were performed by the I–V measurements for both the lateral and the sandwich structures using Al metal contact. The I–V characteristics of the modified PS for all the porosity were more reproducible compared to the unmodified PS surfaces. It was further observed that the conductivity increased with the increasing porosity for the Pd-modified surfaces whereas it decreased for the unmodified PS.