LAUSR

Attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy is used to determine the free charge carrier concentration in arrays of silicon nanowires with characteristic transverse sizes of 50–100 nm and a length of the order of 10 μm formed on lightly doped crystalline p-type silicon by metal-assisted chemical etching and subjected to the additional thermal-diffusion doping of boron at temperatures of 850–1000°C. It is found that the free hole concentration in arrays varies from 5 × 1018 to 3 × 1019 cm–3 depending on the annealing temperature and is maximal at temperatures of 900–950°C. These results can be used to extend the range of potential application of silicon nanowires in photonics, sensorics, and thermoelectric power converters.