• Acta Physica Sinica
  • Vol. 69, Issue 7, 076801-1 (2020)
Shi-Ming Zhai, Huang-Sheng Liao, Nai-Gen Zhou*, Hai-Bin Huang*, and Lang Zhou
Author Affiliations
  • School of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Photovoltaics, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
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    DOI: 10.7498/aps.69.20191275 Cite this Article
    Shi-Ming Zhai, Huang-Sheng Liao, Nai-Gen Zhou, Hai-Bin Huang, Lang Zhou. Atomic simulation of SiyHx structure configuration in a-Si:H thin films [J]. Acta Physica Sinica, 2020, 69(7): 076801-1 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    The hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) film is the core structure of hetero junction with intrinsic thin layer solar cell. Its quality determinates the photoelectric conversion efficiency of this solar cell directly. The configuration of SiyHx is an important structure characteristic of a-Si:H films, and it can influence on the quality of a-Si:H thin films and their application properties. However, it is difficult to study them in depth and detail by the existing analytical and testing methods. In this paper, the structure configuration of SiyHx in a-Si:H /c-Si thin films and the effect of substrate temperature on its content have been simulated and analyzed by molecular dynamics method. A modified Tersoff potential developed by Murty was used to calculate the inter-atomic forces. The results showed that the SiyHx structure in a-Si:H thin films can be summarized into six configurations. Three traditional configurations, including SiH, SiH2 and SiH3, can be referred to as SiHx configurations.The other three nove configurations, including HSi2(s), HSi2(l) and HSi3, can be referred to as HSiy configurations. The main differences between the configurations of HSi2(l) and HSi2(s) are the longer Si—H bonds and bigger bond angle in HSi2(l) configuration than those in HSi2(s) configuration. All of the Si-H bonds in SiHx configurations are strong chemical bonds, while the Si—H bonds in HSiyconfigurations are weak physical bonds. The further calculations of the Si-H bond energies in six configurations have been carried out by the first principle method. According the bond energies results, we can deduce that the order of the stability of six configurations from high to low is SiH > SiH 2 > SiH 3 > HSi 2(s) > HSi 2(l) > HSi 3. Comparing the Si—H bond energies of the six configurations with the solar energy, it is found that the Si-H bond energy in HSiy configuration is in the range of visible and infrared light in solar light. Si—H physical bonds are easy to fracture in HSiy configuration caused by solar light. This may be the main mechanism of producing Steabler-Wronski (S-W) effect in amorphous silicon thin film cells. In addition, the rise of substrate temperature in the deposition process of a-Si:H films will lead to a significant decrease in the configuration content of all kinds of SiyHxconfigurations.
    Shi-Ming Zhai, Huang-Sheng Liao, Nai-Gen Zhou, Hai-Bin Huang, Lang Zhou. Atomic simulation of SiyHx structure configuration in a-Si:H thin films [J]. Acta Physica Sinica, 2020, 69(7): 076801-1
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