Postannealing effects on undoped BaSi2 evaporated films grown on Si substrates

Takamichi Suhara, Koichi Murata, Aryan Navabi, Kosuke O. Hara, Yoshihiko Nakagawa, Cham Thi Trinh, Yasuyoshi Kurokawa, Takashi Suemasu, Kang L. Wang, Noritaka Usami

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Semiconducting BaSi2 is expected as an alternative material for solar cell application because of large absorption coefficients and a suitable bandgap for single-junction solar cells. In this study, the electrical properties of undoped BaSi2 films grown by a simple vacuum evaporation method are explored. The obtained results show that an undoped evaporated film is an n-type semiconductor with a high carrier density of ∼1019 cm-3 and exhibits a metallic behavior. The quality of BaSi2 films is significantly improved by postannealing at 1000°C with surface covering to prevent oxidation. After annealing, the carrier density of BaSi2 films markedly decreases and the temperature dependence of carrier density changes from being metallic to being semiconducting. By comprehensive structural analysis, it is speculated that postannealing improves the film quality, for example, by decreasing the density of grain boundaries.

Original languageEnglish
Article number05DB05
JournalJapanese journal of applied physics
Volume56
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017 May

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering
  • General Physics and Astronomy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Postannealing effects on undoped BaSi2 evaporated films grown on Si substrates'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this