Vibrational Spectra of a-Si:H Obtained by Pds

ABSTRACTIn the energy range below mid-gap, absorption spectra obtained by photothermal deflection spectroscopy (PDS) show much higher values than data evaluated from photo-current measurements. This difference can now be explained as an additional absorption arising from combined vibrational excitation of molecular hydrogen and Si-H stretching modes, which can occur when the H2 molecule is deformed in a collision with Si-H. Down to lower energies, our samples absorb even stronger than in mid-gap. Extension of spectral scans down to photon energies of 0.4 eV shows that this results from absorption of the high energy wings of the collision induced H2 absorption, which is superimposed by the first overtone of the Si-H and Si-H2 stretching modes. The analysis of the H2 absorption profile and strength on samples as grown and annealed gives evidence that molecular hydrogen is enclosed in small cavities and polarized by anisotropic environment in as-grown material while it is concentrated in larger voids under high pressure after annealing above 350°C.