The electronic structure and the band gap of nano-sized Si particles: competition between quantum confinement and surface reconstruction

The electronic structure and especially the band gap of Si_n clusters (n=3–45 atoms) is studied by photoelectron spectroscopy. Contrary to expectations of quantum confinement, almost all clusters studied here have a band gap smaller than that of crystalline Si or even display a continuous (metallic) density of states. We attribute this to covalent bond formation analogous to the reconstructions observed on single-crystal surfaces. Additionally, for Si₃₀ and Si₃₃ a gap size of 0.6 eV (0.4 eV) is observed, supporting the prediction of stable, spherically symmetric structures of these particular clusters. Received: 18 November 1999 / Accepted: 24 November 1999 / Published online: 5 April 2000