Electrical and Computer Engineering Publications

Kinetics of silicon film growth and the deposition phase diagram

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

6-15-2004

Volume

338-340

Issue

1 SPEC. ISS.

Journal

Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids

First Page

13

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2004.02.013

Last Page

18

Abstract

Three different surface microstructural transitions have been identified versus accumulated bulk layer thickness db during the growth of hydrogenated silicon (Si:H) films by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD): (i) an amorphous growth regime roughening transition, (ii) an amorphous-to-(mixed-phase amorphous+microcrystalline) roughening transition, and (iii) a (mixed-phase)-to-(single-phase) microcrystalline smoothening transition. These transitions are observed using real time spectroscopic ellipsometry, and the results can be summarized succinctly using deposition phase diagrams wherein the transition thicknesses of interest are plotted versus the H2-dilution ratio R=[H2]/[SiH4]. For Si:H p-i-n solar cells, a greater understanding of processing-property relations and optimization procedures is possible by correlating cell performance with the corresponding phase diagram for the intrinsic (i) layer obtained, using a relevant substrate material. Here we review previous key results, and as an example present a comparison of phase diagrams for Si:H PECVD obtained at two plasma excitation frequencies, 13.56 MHz (rf) and 60 MHz (vhf). © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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