The information on the variations of indium composition, aggregation size, and quantum-well width is crucially important for understanding the optical properties and, hence, fabricating efficient light-emitting devices. Our results showed that spinodal decomposition could occur in InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells with indium content in the range of 15%-25% ͑grown with metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition͒. A lower nominal indium content led to a better confinement of indium-rich clusters within InGaN quantum wells. The InGaN/GaN interfaces became more diffusive, and indium-rich aggregates extended into GaN barriers with increasing indium content. It was also observed that indium-rich precipitates with diameter ranging from 5 to 12 nm preferred aggregating near V-shaped defects.
Multiple-component decays of photoluminescence (PL) in InGaN/GaN quantum wells have been widely reported. However, their physical interpretations have not been well discussed yet. Based on wavelength-dependent and temperature-varying time-resolved PL measurements, the mechanism of carrier transport among different levels of localized states (spatially distributed) in such an indium aggregated structure was proposed for interpreting the early-stage fast decay, delayed slow rise, and extended slow decay of PL intensity. Three samples of the same quantum well geometry but different nominal indium contents, and hence different degrees of indium aggregation and carrier localization, were compared. The process of carrier transport was enhanced with a certain amount of thermal energy for overcoming potential barriers between spatially distributed potential minimums. In samples of higher indium contents, more complicated carrier localization potential structures led to enhanced carrier transport activities. Free exciton behaviors of the three samples at high temperatures are consistent with previously reported transmission electron microscopy results.
Based on wavelength-dependent and temperature-varying time-resolved photoluminescence ͑PL͒ measurements, the mechanism of carrier transport among different levels of localized states ͑spatially distributed͒ in an InGaN/GaN quantum well structure was proposed for interpreting the early-stage fast decay, delayed slow rise, and extended slow decay of PL intensity. The process of carrier transport was enhanced with a certain amount of thermal energy for overcoming potential barriers between spatially distributed potential minimums. With carrier supply in the carrier transport process, the extended PL decay time at wavelengths corresponding to deeply localized states can be as large as 80 ns.
Through studying the optical, electrical and photocatalytic properties of anatase TiO(2) films with different preferred orientations, (101) and (004), this study clarified the relationship between the formation of metallic nanowires by thermally assisted photoreduction process and surface atomic bonding conditions of TiO(2). Experimental results show that the (101) anatase films which yielded much more Ag nanowires than the (004) oriented films and exhibited more complex superficial atomic bonding, which could be demonstrated by the Gaussian bands in photoluminescence spectra. This might lead to higher carrier concentration and mobility, as well as longer life time for photo-exited electrons and consequently a greater photocatalytic activity for reducing metallic ions. The fact that the anatase (101) surface acted as the preferred nucleation sites for Ag nanowires was supported by high resolution transmission electron microscopy lattice image of a TiO(2) nanofiber where an Ag nanowire was grown.
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