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Structure and Stability of Microvoids in a-Si:H

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 1993

R. Biswas
Affiliation:
Microelectronics Research Center, Iowa State University, Amas, IA 50011.
I. Kwon
Affiliation:
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87845.
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Abstract

Microvoids have been observed in a-Si:H as demonstrated by small angle X-ray scattering. We have studied the structural properties of these microvoids with molecular dynamics simulations. Using molecular dynamics simulations with classical potentials, we have created microvoids by removing Si and H atoms from a computer generated a-Si:H network. The internal surfaces of the microvoids were passivated with additional H atoms and the microvoids were fully relaxed. Microvoids over a limited range of sizes (5-90 missing atoms) were examined. We obtained a relaxed microvoid structure with no dangling bonds for a microvoid with 17 missing atoms, whereas other sizes examined produced less relaxed models with short H-H distances at the microvoid surface. The strains near the microvoid surface are described. The microvoid model was stable to local excitations on weak bonds in the vicinity of the microvoid.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1993

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References

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