Polycrystalline silicon thin films obtained by metal-induced crystallization

Abstract

The formation of high-quality polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) on different substrates has important applications in the development of thin-film transistors, solar cells, image sensors, etc. In this study, we present the results of an investigation of poly-Si films on glass, formed by aluminum-induced crystallization. The process is based on the isothermal annealing for 3 h at 500 °C of co-sputtered Al+Si or sputtered a-Si films on glass, with and without thermally evaporated Al. The poly-Si films were investigated by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.