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Percolation Behaviour in the Electrical Characteristics of Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Nitride Films.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2011

J.M. López-Villegas
Affiliation:
Departament de Física Aplicada i Electrónica, Universitat de Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 647, E-08028 Barcelona (SPAIN).
B. Garrido
Affiliation:
Departament de Física Aplicada i Electrónica, Universitat de Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 647, E-08028 Barcelona (SPAIN).
M.S. Benrakkad
Affiliation:
Departament de Física Aplicada i Electrónica, Universitat de Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 647, E-08028 Barcelona (SPAIN).
J. Samitier
Affiliation:
Departament de Física Aplicada i Electrónica, Universitat de Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 647, E-08028 Barcelona (SPAIN).
E. Bertran
Affiliation:
Departament de Física Aplicada i Electrónica, Universitat de Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 647, E-08028 Barcelona (SPAIN).
A. Canillas
Affiliation:
Departament de Física Aplicada i Electrónica, Universitat de Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 647, E-08028 Barcelona (SPAIN).
J.R. Morante
Affiliation:
Departament de Física Aplicada i Electrónica, Universitat de Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 647, E-08028 Barcelona (SPAIN).
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Abstract

The electro-optical properties of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride films (a-SiNx:H) prepared by rf glow discharge of SiH4 and N2 have been determined as a function of the silicon content in the alloy. The stoichiometry and structure of the layers have been studied by ellipsometry, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Two different electrical behaviours have been found. The samples with x>0.8 show conductivity based on the Frenkel-Poole mechanism, while the samples with x<0.8 show quasi-ohmic conductivity. Both kinds of conduction and the transition between them are analyzed in the framework of the percolation theory. In this context, the correlation between the stoichiometry and structure of the layers with their electrical behaviour indicate that the transition from the Frenkel-Poole to the quasi-ohmic conduction is a consequence of the formation of conducting paths as the percolation threshold of Si-Si bonds is reached.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1992

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