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Preparation and characterization of hydrogenated amorphous boron thin films and thin film solar cells produced by glow discharge decomposition methods. Final report, 1 January 1979-31 May 1980

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6661036· OSTI ID:6661036
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Hydrogenated amorphous boron (a-B:H) films have been produced by glow discharge decomposition of diborane in a diborane-hydrogen plasma. The presence of hydrogen in the films in the range of 5 to 34% has been confirmed by residual gas analysis. The optical band gaps of these films can be varied from as much as 2.2 eV to 0.9 eV by vacuum annealing. In particular, films with optical gaps close to the optimum (1.45 eV) for solar cell applications can be readily produced either by post deposition annealing or the use of substrates heated to 350/sup 0/C. Heating of the substrates during deposition of the films produced varying optical gaps. Evolution of incorporated hydrogen by these means is believed to lead to the lowering of the optical gap. Boron films produced from plasmas into which small amounts of silane and hydrogen were introduced showed lower activation energies for conduction than did the intrinsic a-B:H films. These lower activation energies suggest that silicon and carbon have been incorporated into the film and are acting as dopants.
Research Organization:
Duke Univ., Durham, NC (USA). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-79ET23041
OSTI ID:
6661036
Report Number(s):
DOE/ET/23041-4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601 -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
360603 -- Materials-- Properties
AMORPHOUS STATE
ANNEALING
BORON
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRYSTAL DOPING
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY GAP
EQUIPMENT
FILMS
GLOW DISCHARGES
HEAT TREATMENTS
HYDROGEN
HYDROGENATION
MATERIALS
NONMETALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLATING
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SEMIMETALS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE COATING
VAPOR PLATING