Formation of Micrometer‐Sized Textured Hexagonal Silicon Crystals via Nanoindentation

A comprehensive study on the formation of micrometer‐sized, textured hexagonal diamond silicon (hd‐Si) crystals via nanoindentation followed by annealing is presented. Utilizing advanced characterization techniques such as polarized Raman spectroscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscop...

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Main Authors: Mouad Bikerouin, Anna Marzegalli, Davide Spirito, Gerald J. K. Schaffar, Corrado Bongiorno, Fabrizio Rovaris, Mohamed Zaghloul, Agnieszka Anna Corley‐Wiciak, Leo Miglio, Verena Maier‐Kiener, Giovanni Capellini, Antonio Massimiliano Mio, Emilio Scalise
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2025-06-01
Series:Small Structures
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/sstr.202400552
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author Mouad Bikerouin
Anna Marzegalli
Davide Spirito
Gerald J. K. Schaffar
Corrado Bongiorno
Fabrizio Rovaris
Mohamed Zaghloul
Agnieszka Anna Corley‐Wiciak
Leo Miglio
Verena Maier‐Kiener
Giovanni Capellini
Antonio Massimiliano Mio
Emilio Scalise
author_facet Mouad Bikerouin
Anna Marzegalli
Davide Spirito
Gerald J. K. Schaffar
Corrado Bongiorno
Fabrizio Rovaris
Mohamed Zaghloul
Agnieszka Anna Corley‐Wiciak
Leo Miglio
Verena Maier‐Kiener
Giovanni Capellini
Antonio Massimiliano Mio
Emilio Scalise
author_sort Mouad Bikerouin
collection DOAJ
description A comprehensive study on the formation of micrometer‐sized, textured hexagonal diamond silicon (hd‐Si) crystals via nanoindentation followed by annealing is presented. Utilizing advanced characterization techniques such as polarized Raman spectroscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, and electron energy‐loss spectroscopy, the successful transformation of silicon into high‐quality hd‐Si is demonstrated. The experimental results are further supported by first‐principles calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. Notably, the hd‐Si phase consists of nanometer‐sized grains with slight misorientations, organized into large micrometer‐scale textured domains. These findings underscore the potential of nanoindentation as a precise and versatile tool for inducing pressure‐driven phase transformations, particularly for the stabilization of hexagonal silicon. The textured nature of hd‐Si also presents a unique opportunity to tailor its optical properties, opening new avenues for its application in semiconductor and optoelectronic devices.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2688-4062
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Wiley-VCH
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series Small Structures
spelling doaj-art-64a81fd4ab8642bebd12d355ea0a99172025-08-20T03:24:47ZengWiley-VCHSmall Structures2688-40622025-06-0166n/an/a10.1002/sstr.202400552Formation of Micrometer‐Sized Textured Hexagonal Silicon Crystals via NanoindentationMouad Bikerouin0Anna Marzegalli1Davide Spirito2Gerald J. K. Schaffar3Corrado Bongiorno4Fabrizio Rovaris5Mohamed Zaghloul6Agnieszka Anna Corley‐Wiciak7Leo Miglio8Verena Maier‐Kiener9Giovanni Capellini10Antonio Massimiliano Mio11Emilio Scalise12Department of Materials Science University of Milano‐Bicocca Via R. Cozzi 55 I‐20125 Milano ItalyDepartment of Materials Science University of Milano‐Bicocca Via R. Cozzi 55 I‐20125 Milano ItalyIHP‐Leibniz‐Institut für innovative Mikroelektronik Im Technologiepark 25 15236 Frankfurt (Oder) GermanyDepartment of Materials Science Montanuniversität Leoben Roseggerstrasse 12 8700 Leoben AustriaInstitute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IMM) Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) Strada VIII N. 5 95121 Catania ItalyDepartment of Materials Science University of Milano‐Bicocca Via R. Cozzi 55 I‐20125 Milano ItalyInstitute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IMM) Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) Strada VIII N. 5 95121 Catania ItalyIHP‐Leibniz‐Institut für innovative Mikroelektronik Im Technologiepark 25 15236 Frankfurt (Oder) GermanyDepartment of Materials Science University of Milano‐Bicocca Via R. Cozzi 55 I‐20125 Milano ItalyDepartment of Materials Science Montanuniversität Leoben Roseggerstrasse 12 8700 Leoben AustriaIHP‐Leibniz‐Institut für innovative Mikroelektronik Im Technologiepark 25 15236 Frankfurt (Oder) GermanyInstitute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IMM) Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) Strada VIII N. 5 95121 Catania ItalyDepartment of Materials Science University of Milano‐Bicocca Via R. Cozzi 55 I‐20125 Milano ItalyA comprehensive study on the formation of micrometer‐sized, textured hexagonal diamond silicon (hd‐Si) crystals via nanoindentation followed by annealing is presented. Utilizing advanced characterization techniques such as polarized Raman spectroscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, and electron energy‐loss spectroscopy, the successful transformation of silicon into high‐quality hd‐Si is demonstrated. The experimental results are further supported by first‐principles calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. Notably, the hd‐Si phase consists of nanometer‐sized grains with slight misorientations, organized into large micrometer‐scale textured domains. These findings underscore the potential of nanoindentation as a precise and versatile tool for inducing pressure‐driven phase transformations, particularly for the stabilization of hexagonal silicon. The textured nature of hd‐Si also presents a unique opportunity to tailor its optical properties, opening new avenues for its application in semiconductor and optoelectronic devices.https://doi.org/10.1002/sstr.202400552hexagonal siliconmetastable silicon phasesnanoindentationphase transitiontextured silicon crystals
spellingShingle Mouad Bikerouin
Anna Marzegalli
Davide Spirito
Gerald J. K. Schaffar
Corrado Bongiorno
Fabrizio Rovaris
Mohamed Zaghloul
Agnieszka Anna Corley‐Wiciak
Leo Miglio
Verena Maier‐Kiener
Giovanni Capellini
Antonio Massimiliano Mio
Emilio Scalise
Formation of Micrometer‐Sized Textured Hexagonal Silicon Crystals via Nanoindentation
Small Structures
hexagonal silicon
metastable silicon phases
nanoindentation
phase transition
textured silicon crystals
title Formation of Micrometer‐Sized Textured Hexagonal Silicon Crystals via Nanoindentation
title_full Formation of Micrometer‐Sized Textured Hexagonal Silicon Crystals via Nanoindentation
title_fullStr Formation of Micrometer‐Sized Textured Hexagonal Silicon Crystals via Nanoindentation
title_full_unstemmed Formation of Micrometer‐Sized Textured Hexagonal Silicon Crystals via Nanoindentation
title_short Formation of Micrometer‐Sized Textured Hexagonal Silicon Crystals via Nanoindentation
title_sort formation of micrometer sized textured hexagonal silicon crystals via nanoindentation
topic hexagonal silicon
metastable silicon phases
nanoindentation
phase transition
textured silicon crystals
url https://doi.org/10.1002/sstr.202400552
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