Subsurface hydrogenated amorphous silicon to μc-hydrogenated silicon transformation during magnetron sputter deposition determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry

Y. H. Yang, M. Katiyar, G. F. Feng, N. Maley, J. R. Abelson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We use in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry to analyze the microstructure of the μc-Si:H/a-Si:H interface deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering of a Si target in (Ar+H2). We increase the hydrogen pressure to promote μc-Si:H formation and observe several effects. Initially, H penetrates ∼45 Å into the a-Si:H substrate and increases its hydrogen content. Then ∼55 Å of hydrogen-rich a-Si:H deposits. Finally, μc-Si:H nucleates on top of this ∼100 Å thick, high H-content a-Si:H interface layer. As μc-Si:H grows, the thickness of the amorphous interface layer decreases by ∼40 Å; the void fraction in the μc-Si:H layer is always ≤15 vol %, ruling out the possibility that the a-Si:H is etched away. These results suggest that a-Si:H can be transformed into μc-Si:H in a subsurface region under appropriate conditions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1769-1771
Number of pages3
JournalApplied Physics Letters
Volume65
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - 1994

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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