Carregant...
Miniatura

Tipus de document

Article

Versió

Versió publicada

Data de publicació

Tots els drets reservats

Si us plau utilitzeu sempre aquest identificador per citar o enllaçar aquest document: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/32233

In situ spectroellipsometric study of the nucleation and growth of amorphous silicon

Títol de la revista

Director/Tutor

ISSN de la revista

Títol del volum

Resum

A detailed in situ spectroellipsometric analysis of the nucleation and growth of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a:Si:H) is presented. Photoelectronic quality a‐Si:H films are deposited by plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition on smooth metal (NiCr alloy) and crystalline silicon (c‐Si) substrates. The deposition of a‐Si:H is analyzed from the first monolayer up to a final thickness of 1.2 μm. In order to perform an improved analysis, real time ellipsometric trajectories are recorded, using fixed preparation conditions, at various photon energies ranging from 2.2 to 3.6 eV. The advantage of using such a spectroscopic experimental procedure is underlined. New insights into the nucleation and growth mechanisms of a‐Si:H are obtained. The nucleation mechanism on metal and c‐Si substrates is very accurately described assuming a columnar microstructural development during the early stage of the growth. Then, as a consequence of the incomplete coalescence of the initial nuclei, a surface roughness at the 10-15 Å scale is identified during the further growth of a‐Si:H on both substrates. The bulk a‐Si:H grows homogeneously beneath the surface roughness. Finally, an increase of the surface roughness is evidenced during the long term growth of a‐Si:H. However, the nature of the substrate influenced the film growth. In particular, the film thickness involved in the nucleation‐coalescence phase is found lower in the case of c‐Si (67±8 Å) as compared to NiCr (118±22 Å). Likewise films deposited on c‐Si present a smaller surface roughness even if thick samples are considered (>1 μm). More generally, the present study illustrates the capability of in situ spectroellipsometry to precisely analyze fundamental processes in thin‐film growth, but also to monitor the preparation of complex structures on a few monolayers scale.

Citació

Citació

CANILLAS I BIOSCA, Adolf, BERTRÁN SERRA, Enric, ANDÚJAR BELLA, José luis, DRÉVILLON, B.. In situ spectroellipsometric study of the nucleation and growth of amorphous silicon. _Journal of Applied Physics_. 1990. Vol. 68, núm. 6, pàgs. 2752-2759. [consulta: 20 de gener de 2026]. ISSN: 0021-8979. [Disponible a: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/32233]

Exportar metadades

JSON - METS

Compartir registre