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Hydrogen Dynamics in a-Si:H

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 1993

Paulo V. Santos*
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung,W-7000 Stuttgart 80, Federal Republic of Germany
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Abstract

The interaction between electronic carriers and hydrogen migration in a-Si:H was investigated by diffusion experiments in the intrinsic (i−) layer of p-i-n a-Si:H photo-diodes. The carrier concentration in the i-layer was controlled by varying the bias applied to the devices. Hydrogen migration (i) is enhanced when the carrier population is increased by illumination and (ii) is suppressed when it is reduced below the thermal equilibrium value by the application of a reverse bias to the diodes. The effect is attributed to the dependence on carrier density of the dissociation rate of hydrogen from Si-H bonds into the diffusion path consisting of interstitial sites. In addition, the migration length in the diffusion path increases under reverse bias. The enhanced migration is associated with a decrease in the effective density of traps for hydrogen in a carrier-depleted layer. Possible mechanisms for the interaction between hydrogen migration, carriers and defects are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1993

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References

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