Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011
The crystallization of α-Si in α-Si(50nm) and Au(5nm) thin film bi-layers has been investigated during heat treatment in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). When crystallization of α-Si first begins at 130°C the Au-Si alloy reflections observed at lower temperatures vanish and several new reflections from metastable Au-Si compounds occur. Dendritically growing islands of poly-Si are observed after heating at 175°C. If the samples are held constant at 175°C for ten minutes, the poly-Si islands grow together. The formation of poly-Si depends on the diffusion of Au into α-Si and the formation of metastable Si-Au compounds. After crystallization Au segregates to the front and back surface of the poly-Si film.