Photocurrent decay from the steady-state in thin film hydrogenated amorphous silicon: Numerical simulation analysis of experimental results

Javier A. Schmidt (Lead / Corresponding author), David M. Goldie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Starting from the multiple trapping rate equations that define the non-equilibrium concentrations of electrons and holes in extended states, the experiment of photocurrent decay from the steady-state is examined. A system of non-linear coupled differential equations is solved to get the temporal evolution of the occupation functions and the carrier concentrations after cessation of the illumination. Different expressions proposed in the literature to evaluate the carrier lifetimes from the photocurrent decay data are critically examined. Measurements performed on a series of hydrogenated amorphous silicon samples deposited at different substrate temperatures are reproduced by the simulations. It is found that the response time determined from the photocurrent initial rate-of-decay provides an excellent estimation of the free lifetime of the majority carrier, provided the decay is recorded from sufficiently short times. It is also found that the common recombination lifetime can also be estimated from the photocurrent decay data.

Original languageEnglish
Article number137793
Pages (from-to)1-7
Number of pages7
JournalThin Solid Films
Volume696
Early online date7 Jan 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Feb 2020

Keywords

  • Amorphous silicon
  • Computer simulations
  • Defect model
  • Experimental methods
  • Photocurrent decay
  • Recombination

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Metals and Alloys
  • Materials Chemistry

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