화학공학소재연구정보센터
Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A, Vol.27, No.3, 436-442, 2009
Transport and structural properties of silicon films in the amorphous-to-microcrystalline transition region
Undoped hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon (mu c-Si:H) thin films have been deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) at low temperature with different hydrogen dilutions and rf powers. Large complexity of microstructure in hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon and the existence of different sizes of crystallites are demonstrated by different characterizations. The authors correlate the transport properties with the structural properties of the rf PECVD grown mu c-Si:H in the amorphous-to-crystalline transition region. For chamber pressure of 2.0 Torr and rf power density of 310 mW/cm(2), the onset of crystallinity is observed for the film deposited at a hydrogen dilution of 94%. At a hydrogen dilution of 95%, amorphous-to-microcrystalline transition have been observed. This film exhibits a dark conductivity of 2.7x10(-7) S cm(-1) and a crystalline volume fraction of 21%. The mobility-lifetime product for these films are 3.8x10(-6) cm(2)/V and hole diffusion length is 70 nm. Fourier transform infrared study shows mainly monohydride bonding in this film. This film becomes stable after 30 h of light soaking.