Cw laser crystallization of glow discharge a-Si:H on glass substrates

Glow discharge hydrogenated amorphous Si films were crystallized using a cw Ar laser. The properties of the crystallized films were studied by optical and electron microscopy, electrical measurements and elastic recoil detection (ERD) analysis. In addition, a preferential plasma etching technique was used to determine the degree of crystallization. Large (>3 μm) high quality crystallites were induced above a threshold laser power of 100 W/cm by an explosive crystallization process. This was accompanied by the formation of bubbles and ejection of material from the crystallization centers. The sheet resistivity decreased by five to six orders of magnitude. Some 50–90% of the hydrogen remained in the films after laser annealing. A simple model shows that solid state diffusion accounts for the final hydrogen distribution in the laser annealed films. The use of this material for the fabrication of devices on glass substrates is discussed.