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A Study of Electronic Defects in Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Prepared by the Expanding Thermal Plasma Technique

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Steve Reynolds
Affiliation:
G. Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Boul. Tzarigradsko chaussee 72, Sofia 1784, Bulgaria.
Charlie Main
Affiliation:
G. Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Boul. Tzarigradsko chaussee 72, Sofia 1784, Bulgaria.
Ivica Zrinscak
Affiliation:
G. Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Boul. Tzarigradsko chaussee 72, Sofia 1784, Bulgaria.
Zdravka Aneva
Affiliation:
School of Computing and Advanced Technologies, University of Abertay Dundee, Bell Street, Dundee, U.K.
Diana Nesheva
Affiliation:
School of Computing and Advanced Technologies, University of Abertay Dundee, Bell Street, Dundee, U.K.
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Abstract

The electronic properties of amorphous silicon films prepared by the expanding thermal plasma technique have been studied using steady-state and transient photoconductivity measurements. It is found that films deposited at a substrate temperature of 400°C have a conduction band tail slope of 29 meV, deep defect density of order 3×1016 cm-3, an Urbach tail slope of 65 meV, defect absorption of 5-10 cm-1, and a mobility-lifetime product of 1.3×10-7 cm2 V-1. Aslight increase in defect density and reduction in mobility-lifetime product is observed on moderate light-soaking. The overall optoelectronic quality is somewhat poorer than commercial PECVD material, but there is scope for improvement as deposition conditions are further optimised.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2003

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