Analysis of amorphous-nanocrystalline silicon thin films by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy and Time-of-Flight Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis

Juraić, Krunoslav; Gracin, Davor; Siketić, Zdravko; Čeh, Miran Analysis of amorphous-nanocrystalline silicon thin films by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy and Time-of-Flight Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis. In: Croatian Microscopy Symposium (16 November 2012 - 17 November 2012) Pula. (Unpublished)

Preview	PDF - Poster - poster Download (885kB) | Preview
Preview	PDF (sažetak) - Other - other Download (123kB) | Preview

Abstract

Amorphous-nanocrystalline silicon (a-nc-Si:H) is mixed-phase material consisting of silicon nanocrystals embedded in amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) matrix. It has promising technological applications in photovoltaic devices and thin film transistor. Electrical and optical properties of a-nc-Si:H can be controlled by silicon nanocrystals size distribution and ratio of amorphous/nanocrystalline volume contribution. Because of better resistivity to Staebler-Wronski degradation, sufficient electrical conductivity, variable energy bandgap and absorption coefficient of the same order, compared to amorphous silicon, a-nc-Si:H are promising candidate for application in “third generation” thin film solar cells. 100 nm thick a-nc-Si:H/a-Si:H bilayer structure (Figure 1) are prepared by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition (PECVD) using radio frequency discharge in gas mixture of silane (90%) and hydrogen (10%) for amorphous layer while dilution was enhanced up to 94% hydrogen in gas mixture for formation a-nc-Si:H [1]. The substrate was glass and glass covered with SnOx thin film. The power density during the formation of a-nc-Si:H layer was 20 mW/cm2 resulting in film growth rate of 2 nm/min. As seen by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), the films contained nanocrystals of silicon (2-10 nm in size) embedded in a-Si:H matrix. The size of nanocrystals and crystal to amorphous fraction are increased starting from substrate towards surface of the film. Amorphous matrix looked uniform except in the area close to a-Si:H/a-nc-Si:H interface where spots brighter than average appeared (Figure 1). These areas can be attributed to less density material, presumably voids. It is assumed that the surface of voids is “decorated” with hydrogen that saturates silicon “dangling bonds” [2]. That is why distribution of hydrogen should indicate density fluctuation in material. The in-depth distribution of hydrogen atoms in 100 nm thick a-nc-Si:H/a-Si:H with 10 nm resolution was estimated by Time-of-Flight Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis (TOF ERDA) using previously described setup [3]. TOF-ERDA (Figure 2) showed non uniform distribution of hydrogen across the depth with maximum close to a-Si:H/a-nc-Si:H interface that coincidence with less density material seen by HRTEM. This supports the idea about important influence of voids in crystal formation, in particularly in nucleation phase. References: [1] D. Gracin et al., J. Appl. Cryst. 40 (2007) S373–S376 [2] S. D.Gracin, U.V.Desnica nd M.Ivanda, J.Non-Cryst. Solids 149, 257 (1992) [3] Z.Siketić, I.Bogdanović Radović, Milko Jakšić, Thin Solid Films 518, 2617 (2010).

Item Type:	Unpublished conference/workshop items or lecture materials
Uncontrolled Keywords:	amorphous-nanocrystalline silicon; TOF-ERDA; HRTEM
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Physics > Condensed Matter Physics
Divisions:	Division of Experimental Physics Division of Materials Physics
Projects:	Project title Project leader Project code Project type Tanki filmovi legura silicija na prijelazu iz amorfne u uređenu strukturu [82826] Gracin, Davor 098-0982886-2894 MZOS Nano - structural materials for thin film solar cells [82826] Gracin, Davor UKF-68/10 UNSPECIFIED Fizika i primjena nanostruktura i volumne tvari [135746] Ivanda, Mile 098-0982904-2898 MZOS
Depositing User:	Krunoslav Juraić
Date Deposited:	21 Nov 2012 12:59
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/475

Actions (login required)

View Item