Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-22dnz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-27T03:57:35.026Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Cyclically Varying Hydrogen Dilution for the Growth of Very Thin and Doped Nanocrystalline Silicon Films by Hot-Wire CVD

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Fernando Villar Lopez
Affiliation:
fernandovillar@ub.edu, University of Barcelona, Xermae. Departament de Física Aplicada i Óptica, Martí Franques 1-11, Barcelona, 08028, Spain, 0034 93 403 9221
Aldrin Antony
Affiliation:
aldrinantony@ub.edu, University of Barcelona, XaRMAE, Física Aplicada y Óptica, Martí i Franqués 1-11, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
Delfina Muñoz
Affiliation:
delfmc@gmail.com, University of Barcelona, XaRMAE, Física Aplicada y Óptica, Martí i Franqués 1-11, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
Fredy Rojas
Affiliation:
fredyrojas@ub.edu, University of Barcelona, XaRMAE, Física Aplicada y Óptica, Martí i Franqués 1-11, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
Jordi Escarré
Affiliation:
jescarre@ub.edu, University of Barcelona, XaRMAE, Física Aplicada y Óptica, Martí i Franqués 1-11, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
Marco Stella
Affiliation:
mstella@ub.edu, University of Barcelona, XaRMAE, Física Aplicada y Óptica, Martí i Franqués 1-11, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
José Miguel Asensi
Affiliation:
jmasensi@ub.edu, University of Barcelona, XaRMAE, Física Aplicada y Óptica, Martí i Franqués 1-11, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
Joan Bertomeu
Affiliation:
jbertomeu@ub.edu, University of Barcelona, XaRMAE, Física Aplicada y Óptica, Martí i Franqués 1-11, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
Jordi Andreu
Affiliation:
jordi.andreu@ub.edu, University of Barcelona, XaRMAE, Física Aplicada y Óptica, Martí i Franqués 1-11, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
Get access

Abstract

An important issue for the massive implementation of thin silicon technology in photovoltaic is the use of plastic substrates, which allow the use of roll-to-roll deposition systems and planar monolithic interconnection between the cells. However, the use of plastic substrates require a fully low temperature process; especially critical in the deposition of the thin amorphous (a-Si:H) or nanocrystalline (nc-Si:H) layers. Hot-Wire Chemical Vapour Deposition (HW-CVD) technique has demonstrated to be a good alternative to deposit quality thin films at low temperature. In this paper we focus our study on very thin (50 nm) n- and p-doped nc-Si:H films deposited at low substrate temperature around 100°C. We have observed that, in this low temperature deposition conditions, the promotion of an a Si:H incubation layer leads to a poor doping efficiency and poor electrical properties of the films. Hence, in addition to the optimization of the deposition conditions, we deposited doped layers by cyclically varying the hydrogen dilution (CVH) during deposition process. This CVH method promotes a layer-by-layer growth and inhibits the formation of the incubation layer. Several doped nc-Si:H layers have been deposited with and without this CVH method. The structural, electrical and optical properties of these films and advantage of CVH in improving the device quality of the thin doped layers are reported.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Bailat, J. Terrazzoni-Daudrix, V., Guillet, J. Freitas, F. Niquille, X. Shah, A. Ballif, C. Scharf, T. R.Morf, Hansen, A. Fischer, D. Ziegler, Y. Closset, A.. Proceedings of the 20th EU Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, ISBN 3-936338-19-1, WIP Renewable Energies, pp. 15291532, 2005.Google Scholar
2. Villar, F. Escarré, J., Antony, A. Stella, M. Rojas, F. Asensi, J.M. Bertomeu, J. and Andreu, J.. Thin Solid Films, Volume 516, Issue 5, 15 January 2008, Pages 584587 Google Scholar
3. Fonrodona, M. Escarré, J., Villar, F. Soler, D. Asensi, J.M. Bertomeu, J. and Andreu, J.. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 89 (2005) p.37 Google Scholar
4. Niikura, Chisato, Brenot, Romain, Guillet, Joelle and Bourée, Jean-Eric. Thin Solid Films, Volume 516, Issue 5, 15 January 2008, Pages 568571.Google Scholar
5. Morral, A. Fontcubertai, Cabarrocas, P. Rocai, Clerc, C. Phys. Rev., B 69 (2004) 125307.Google Scholar
6. Houben, L. Luysberg, M. Hapke, P. Carius, R. Finger, F. Wagner, H. Philos. Mag A 77 (6) (1998) 1447.Google Scholar
7. Filonovich, S.A. Ribeiro, M. Rolo, A.G. and Alpuim, P.. Thin Solid Films, Volume 516, Issue 5, 15 January 2008, Pages 576579 Google Scholar
8. Kumar, P. and Schroeder, B.. Thin Solid Films, Volume 516, Issue 5, 15 January 2008, Pages 580583.Google Scholar