“…After thermal treatment at temperatures above 1000°C, the off-stoichiometric oxide, SiO x ͑x Ͻ 2͒, is separated into silicon nanoclusters ͑crystalline or amorphous depending on their size͒, defects ͑oxidation states͒, and SiO 2 . 3 Silicon nanocrystals ͑Si nCs͒ have been observed in SRO by transmission electron microscopy corroborating the phase separation, 4 and the existence and size of nCs depend on the excess silicon and annealing conditions. Different techniques have been used to obtain SRO, including plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition ͑CVD͒, 5 low-pressure chemical vapor deposition ͑LPCVD͒, 3 silicon implantation into thermal oxide, 6 reactive sputtering, 7 and others.…”