Nanostructures in silicon investigated by atomic force microscopy and surface photovoltage spectroscopy

Surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS) and conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) have been used for the characterization of nanocrystalline hydrogenated Si (nc-Si:H). This is a promising material both for silicon-based opto-electronics as well as for photovoltaic applications. Notwithstanding its interesting properties many issues regarding the material electronic and optical properties are not completely understood. The present contribution reports microscopic and spectroscopic analyses of nc-Si:H films grown for photovoltaic applications by low-energy plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique. Electronic levels associated with defect states were investigated by SPS, whereas the conduction mechanism at a microscopic level was investigated by C-AFM.