A stable phase of relatively large hexagonal-wurtzite silicon crystals (up to 20 μm) was directly deposited at low pressure using ultraviolet laser ablation. The films were grown on a variety of substrates at room temperature from a single crystal, cubic silicon target. Crystallites of the hexagonal-wurtzite phase of silicon were clearly identified using selected area electron diffraction. Further support for this identification was provided by confocal scanning micro-Raman spectroscopy. The deposition of hexagonal silicon films may lead to novel two-dimensional optoelectronic devices, and pave the way to studies of the electronic properties of this lower symmetry, uncommon silicon phase.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.