ISSN:
1089-7550
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
A scanning tunneling microscope has been used to study the topography of the as-grown surface of device-quality, intrinsic, hydrogenated amorphous silicon deposited by rf discharge from silane. The substrates were atomically flat, oxide-free, single-crystal silicon or gallium arsenide. No evidence for island formation or nanoscale irregularities was seen in studies of 100-A(ring)-thick films on either silicon or gallium arsenide. The topography of 1000- and 4000-A(ring)-thick films has much variation; many regions can be characterized as "rolling hills,'' but atomically flat areas have also been observed nearby. Generally, it appears that surface diffusion plays a role in smoothing the film topography. In most regions, the observed slopes were 10% or less from horizontal, but some steep-sided valleys, indicating incipient voids, were observed. The effect of the finite size of the scanning tunneling microscope probe tip is considered; this has an effect on the observed images in some cases.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.355203
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