Remote plasma-processing (RPP), medium range order, and precursor sites for dangling bond defects in “amorphous-Si(H)” alloys: Photovoltaic and thin film transistor devices

Abstract Remote plasma processing (RPP) provides pathways to the formation of photovoltaic (PV) and thin-film-transistor (TFT) devices that include buried interfaces. This is made possible by separate and independent control of (i) plasma excited O- and N-atom deposition precursors in a up-stream plasma chamber, combined with (ii) down-stream injection of Si- and Ge-atoms with control gas flow rates providing control of buried interface bonding at monolayer levels. Devices with intrinsic, B p-type and P n-type “a-Si(H)” & “a-Si,Ge(H)” layers require 10% bonded H in monolayer (Si H arrangements) and deposition and/or annealing at temperatures between 240 and 275 °C. Deposition from SiH4 with either PH3 or B2H6 dopant gasses provides spectrally reflecting films which can be annealed yielding fine-grain films for gate, or source and drain regions for TFTs or FETs.