The Valence Band Tail Density of States and Bond Angle Distortion in a-SiNx: H Alloys

1996 ◽  
Vol 426 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. G. Budaguan ◽  
A. A. Aivazov ◽  
D. A Stryahilev
Keyword(s):  
Infrared Spectroscopy ◽  
Valence Band ◽  
Bond Angle ◽  
Deformation Energy ◽  
Essential Difference ◽  
Band Tail ◽  
Characteristic Energy ◽  
Valence States ◽  
Bond Bending ◽  
Scattering Characteristic

AbstractFilms of a-SiNx:H with x = 0.0..0.62 were deposited by glow discharge decomposition of (10% SiH4+90%/H2 )+ NH3 mixture. The chemical bonding and composition of films were investigated with using of infrared spectroscopy. The deformation energy per Si atom connected to bond bending Vkθ was calculated from data of Raman scattering. Characteristic energy of valence band tail (VBT) states distribution, E0v, were determined fromrsubgap absorption spectra. The dependencies of E0v and Vkθ on film composition, x, were considered in order to estimate the influence of the bond angle disorder on the distribution of VBT states.The essential difference in behavior of E0v and Vkθ dependencies on x was found for Si-rich (x<0. 15) alloys. When Vkθ value increase with x, the E0v parameter stays almost constant; while at x>0. 15 the E0v increase with x as well as the VKO. It means that bond angle disorder in the bulk of the material contributes to VBT characteristic energy, but it is not the only source. Another factors as it was shown may be connected with valence states of Si atoms, localized near inner boundaries.

Band Tails and Thermal Disorder in Doped and Undoped Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon and Silicon-Germanium Alloys

1990 ◽  
Vol 192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samer Aljishi ◽  
J. David Cohen ◽  
Shu Jin ◽  
Lothar Ley
Keyword(s):  
Valence Band ◽  
Conduction Band ◽  
Photoelectron Spectroscopy ◽  
Silicon Germanium ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Structural Disorder ◽  
Band Tail ◽  
Characteristic Energy ◽  
Densities Of States ◽  
Thermal Disorder

ABSTRACTThe energy distribution and temperature dependence of the conduction and valence band tail density of states in a-Si:H and a-Si,Ge:H alloys is determined via total yield photoelectron spectroscopy. All films are observed to possess purely exponential conduction and valence band tail densities of states; however, the characteristic energy of the conduction band tail increases much more rapidly with temperature in the range of 300K to 550K than that of the valence band tail. This indicates that over that temperature range the conduction band tail is considerably more susceptible to thermal disorder than to structural disorder whereas the reverse holds for the valence band tail.

Thermal Equilibration Between Band Tail and Near Surface Defect States in Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon and Silicon-Germanium Alloys

1990 ◽  
Vol 192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samer Aljishi ◽  
Shu Jin ◽  
Lothar Ley ◽  
Sigurd Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Valence Band ◽  
Photoelectron Spectroscopy ◽  
Silicon Germanium ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
State Density ◽  
Defect States ◽  
Band Tail ◽  
Characteristic Energy ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Average Value

ABSTRACTWe employ total yield photoelectron spectroscopy to measure the density of occupied states at the clean a-SixGe1_x:H alloy surface. The near surface defect states are observed to lie at 0.57 eV above the valence band edge with a density of 4×l017 cm−3, independent of Ge content. The valence band tail characteristic energy is also measured to be independent of alloy composition with an average value of 54 meV. We demonstrate that thermodynamic equilibrium at the surface between weak bonds (forming the valence band tail) and the dangling bonds provides an excellent description of the experimental data and explains why the surface state density in a-Si:H cannot be lowered below the 1011 to 1012 cm−2 range.

Sensitization of the Holes Lifetime by the Addition of Dangling Bonds in a-Si:H

2001 ◽  
Vol 664 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.F. Fonseca ◽  
S. Z. Weisz ◽  
I. Balberg
Keyword(s):  
Valence Band ◽  
Important Implication ◽  
Dangling Bond ◽  
Dangling Bonds ◽  
Defect States ◽  
Band Tail ◽  
Present Understanding

ABSTRACTThis paper is concerned with the phenomenon of the increase of the holes lifetime with the increase of the dangling bond concentration in a-Si:H. This rather surprising phenomenon that was observed, but not discussed, previously is shown to be a non-trivial effect which is based on the charged nature of the dangling bonds and a special scenario of the concentrations of the various defect states in the material. The most important implication of our study is that the charged dangling bonds can sensitize the valence band tail states, in contrast with the accepted roles of these types of states. The present understanding suggests that many new interesting phototransport phenomena can be found in a-Si:H.

States in the Gap of Improved a-Ge:H Studied by Photomodulation Spectroscopy

1991 ◽  
Vol 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Chen ◽  
J. Tauc ◽  
D. Pang ◽  
W. A. Turner ◽  
W. Paul
Keyword(s):  
Glow Discharge ◽  
Valence Band ◽  
Density Of States ◽  
Pump Beam ◽  
Defect Density ◽  
Dangling Bond ◽  
Band Tail ◽  
Valence Bands

ABSTRACTThe photomodulation spectra of a-Ge:H of average photoelectronic quality(ημπ = 1 × 10-10cm2/V) and of improved quality (ημπ = 3 × 10-7cm2/V), produced under different plasma conditions in an r.f. diode reactor by glow discharge, were measured at 80K and are analyzed in analogy with earlier studies of a-Si:H. The spectra of the poorer material are dominated by transitions between dangling bond states and the conduction and valence bands. By contrast, the spectra of the better material require contributions of transitions from the band tail states, indicating that the reduced defect density has resulted in pump-beam induced quasi-Fermi levels reaching near the conduction and valence band edges. A very acceptable fit between plausible density-of-states distributions and the experimental spectra has been found.

An Alternative Model for the Kinetics of Light-Induced Defects in A-Si:H

1991 ◽  
Vol 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo V. Santos ◽  
W. B. Jackson ◽  
R. A. Street
Keyword(s):  
Time Dependence ◽  
Valence Band ◽  
Defect Formation ◽  
Defect Density ◽  
Generation Rate ◽  
Band Tail ◽  
Defect Generation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Induced Defects ◽  
Kinetics Of

ABSTRACTThe kinetics of light-induced defect generation in a-Si:H was investigated over a wide range of illumination intensities and temperatures. The defect density around 1016cm-3 exhibits a power-law time dependence Ns ∼ G2εfε with ε = 0.2 to 0.3, where G is the photo-carrier generation rate. A model for the kinetics of defect generation is proposed based on the existence of an exponential distribution of defect formation energies in the amorphous network, associated with the valence band tail states. The model reproduces the observed time dependence of the defect density with an exponent e determined by the exponential width of the valence band tail. The temperature dependence of the defect generation rate is well-reproduced by the model, which provides a connection between the Stabler-Wronski effect and the weak-bond model.

The Density of States in Undoped and Doped Amorphous Silicon-Germanium Alloys Determined through Photoyield Spectroscopy

1989 ◽  
Vol 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Aljishi ◽  
Jin Shu ◽  
L. Ley
Keyword(s):  
Valence Band ◽  
Density Of States ◽  
Relative Position ◽  
Silicon Germanium ◽  
Lower Energy ◽  
Composition Range ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Band Tail ◽  
Defect Band ◽  
Amorphous Silicon Germanium

ABSTRACTPhotoelectron yield spectroscopy is used to study the occupied density of states (DOS) in undoped and doped a-Si, Ge:H alloys. We find a shift in the top of the valence band to lower energy as the Ge content is increased. The width of the defect band becomes abruptly narrower when Ge is initially introduced. This change is accompanied by a significant shift in the relative position of the Fermi level towards midgap. The defect peak tracks the valence band throughout the entire composition range. The intrinsic valence band tail in the alloys is found to be an exponential with a characteristic slope of 50 to 60 meV independent of composition. Boron and phosphorous doping affect the DOS of the alloys in a manner similar to that measured in a-Si:H.

The Electronic Structure of Doped Arsenic Triselenide

1985 ◽  
Vol 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. Barclay ◽  
J. M. Marshall ◽  
C. Main
Keyword(s):  
Fermi Level ◽  
Valence Band ◽  
Band Tail ◽  
Undoped Material ◽  
New Information ◽  
Arsenic Triselenide ◽  
Background Density ◽  
Heavily Doped ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Type Conduction

ABSTRACTWe have investigated the electronic properties of films of arsenic triselenide into which the transition metal nickel has been introduced by a co-sputtering technique. Measurement of d.c. conductivity, thermopower, optical absorption and photomobility have been performed to characterise the material. These measurements give new information concerning the influence of nickel on the optical gap, the position of the Fermi-level, and other aspects of transport in As2 Se3. In the most heavily doped sample the d.c. conductivity is increased by 11 orders of magnitude and the position of the Fermi-level is shifted by ΔEF∼0.6 eV. The results are explained in terms of a model in which an acceptor level is introduced into the valence band tail of a background density of states (DOS) obtained earlier for the undoped material. In contrast to the suggestion by previous workers that the incorporation of high concentrations of nickel can produce a transition to n-type conduction, we argue that the Fermi-level remains in the valence band tail and that hopping conduction of carriers close the Fermi-level yields a negative sign in thermopower.

Photoluminescence in Hydrogenated Silicon-Germanium Alloys

1987 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Ranganathan ◽  
M. Gal ◽  
J. M. Viner ◽  
P. C. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Valence Band ◽  
Conduction Band ◽  
Silicon Germanium ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Dangling Bond ◽  
Band Tail ◽  
Hydrogenated Silicon ◽  
Bond State ◽  
Constant Magnitude ◽  
Low Energy Tail

AbstractResults of a detailed study of photoluminescence (PL) in the a-Si1−xGex:H system are presented. Many samples exhibit a low energy “tail” to the PL efficiency which is of constant magnitude independent of x. There is a departure from this behavior when a low energy PL peak near 0.8–0.9 eV is present. The position of the low energy PL peak is independent of Ge concentration. It has been suggested that this PL transition is from an electron in the conduction band tail into a silicon dangling bond state. As Ge is added to a-Si:H it is the edge of the conduction band which decreases in energy while the valence band remains relatively constant in energy. It is therefore unlikely that the low energy PL is due to a transition from the conduction band into a silicon dangling bond state because the energy of the silicon dangling bond with respect to the valence band is probably essentially independent of Ge content. If the PL which peaks near 0.8 eV results from a transition which involves a silicon dangling bond, then the transition may be from the dangling bond to the valence band.

Does ion Bombardment Induce a Degradation of the Electronic Properties of a-Si:H Films?

1990 ◽  
Vol 192 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Roca i Cabarrocas ◽  
P. Morin ◽  
J. Conde ◽  
V. Chu ◽  
J.Z. Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glow Discharge ◽  
Electronic Properties ◽  
Valence Band ◽  
Ion Bombardment ◽  
Clear Correlation ◽  
Negative Bias ◽  
Substrate Bias ◽  
Band Tail ◽  
Ion Energy

ABSTRACTWe present a detailed study of the effects of a negative bias applied to the substrate on the electronic properties of a-Si:H films deposited by r.f. glow discharge. Two series of samples deposited at 30 and 100 mTorr respectively have been studied. For each series the negative d.c. bias applied to the substrate was decreased from 0 to −100 V in steps of 25 V. We observe for both series of samples an improvement of the electronic properties of the films as we decrease the substrate bias (increase the ion energy) down to − 50 V. We have found a clear correlation between the negative bias applied to the substrate and the subgap absorption, the valence band tail slope and the electron and hole μτ products.

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