Local network structure of a-SiC:H and its correlation with dielectric function
- Center of Innovative Photovoltaic Systems (CIPS), Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193 (Japan)
The microscopic disordered structures of hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide (a-Si{sub 1−x}C{sub x}:H) layers with different carbon contents have been determined based on the correlations between the dielectric function in the ultraviolet/visible region and the local bonding states studied by high-sensitivity infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy. We find that the microscopic structure of the a-Si{sub 1−x}C{sub x}:H layers fabricated by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition shows a sharp structural transition at a boundary of x = 6.3 at. %. In the regime of x ≤ 6.3 at. %, (i) the amplitude of the a-SiC:H dielectric function reduces and (ii) the SiH{sub 2} content increases drastically with x, even though most of the C atoms are introduced into the tetrahedral sites without bonding with H. In the regime of x > 6.3 at. %, on the other hand, (i) the amplitude of the dielectric function reduces further and (ii) the concentration of the sp{sup 3} CH{sub n} (n = 2,3) groups increases. Moreover, we obtained the direct evidence that the sp{sup 2} C bonding state in the a-SiC matrix exists in the configuration of C = CH{sub 2} and the generation of the graphite-like C = CH{sub 2} unit suppresses the band gap widening significantly. At high C contents of x > 6.3 at. %, the a-SiC:H layers show quite porous structures due to the formation of microvoids terminated with the SiH{sub 2}/CH{sub n} groups. By taking the SiH{sub 2}/CH{sub n} microvoid generation in the network and the high-energy shift of the dielectric function by the local bonding states into account, the a-SiC:H dielectric function model has been established. From the analysis using this model, we have confirmed that the a-SiC:H optical properties in the ultraviolet/visible region are determined almost completely by the local network structures.
- OSTI ID:
- 22217787
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 114, Issue 23; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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