Changes in surface area and composition during grinding of silicon in environments of various quality

Abstract

Changes in particle size, surface properties, and composition brought about by planetary grinding of silicon in air and various permittivity liquids were investigated. Using a variety of spectroscopic techniques (ESR, IRS, and XPS), a mechanically induced surface oxidation was proved. While at grinding in air and organic liquids a part of the centers originating from dangling orbitals on Si^III are preserved, the properties of water-ground silicon are fully governed by the oxide surface shell. The most effective particle size reduction and surface protection can be reached by grinding in nonpolar liquids.