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Nanostructured Amorphous Silicon on Metal Electrodes: Electrical and Optical Properties

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2013

George A. Hernandez ,
Daniel Martinez ,
Stephen Patenaude  and
Michael C. Hamilton
George A. Hernandez
Affiliation:
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Auburn University, 200 Broun Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849, U.S.A.
Daniel Martinez
Affiliation:
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Auburn University, 200 Broun Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849, U.S.A.
Stephen Patenaude
Affiliation:
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Auburn University, 200 Broun Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849, U.S.A.
Michael C. Hamilton*
Affiliation:
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Auburn University, 200 Broun Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849, U.S.A.
*
*Corresponding Author E-mail: mch0021@auburn.edu, Tel: 334-844-1879
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Abstract

We present two distinct methods to nanostructure the surface of amorphous silicon to produce unique, nanoscale surface features. One method is a dry etch process that employs a modified Bosch1 process on an advanced silicon etcher to produce needle-like features of amorphous silicon. Likewise, we also investigated metal-assisted wet chemical etching2 as an alternative method to nanostructure the amorphous silicon to produce porous-like features. The resulting surface topography leads to an optically black appearance over patterned or large areas. This is a result of the interspacing between each needle and pore that leads to a high optical absorption. Thus, we designate it as black amorphous silicon (b-a-Si). We have deposited and formed regions of b-a-Si on variety of insulating films and metal electrodes, including chrome and titanium. In this study, we characterize the electrical and optical properties of as-deposited amorphous silicon and nanostructured amorphous silicon.

Keywords

amorphousSinanostructure
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1551: Symposium R – Nanostructured Semiconductors and Nanotechnology , 2013 , pp. 61 - 66
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2013 

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