Peculiarities of surface photoconductivity relaxation in the structures of macroporous silicon in the visible spectrum

Authors

  • N. I. Karas V. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
  • L. A. Karachevtseva V. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
  • V. F. Onyshchenko V. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15407/hftp11.02.228

Keywords:

relaxation, photoconductivity, macroporous silicon, minimum relaxation time

Abstract

An experimental study has beencarried out on the spectral dependence of the relaxation time of surface monopolar photoconductivity in the structures of macroporous silicon, with strong surface absorption of light, while the absorption coefficient varied in the range 2.37?103–3?105 cm–1, and the absorption depth from 0.03 ?m to 4.22 ?m. Visible LEDs 0.38–0.62 µm were used for the studies: ultraviolet, violet, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. Structures of macroporous silicon were formed on n-type silicon with orientation [100] and specific resistivity of 4.5 ??cm using photoelectrochemical etching. The macropores had a diameter of Dp = 3.5 ?m, a depth of hp = 80 ?m and a concentration of Np = 3.5?106 cm–2. In the structures of macroporous silicon, a "slow" relaxation of monopolar photoconductivity was experimentally observed. It has been found that the relaxation time of monopolar photoconductivity is dependent on the wavelength of the illumination and varieds in the range of 15.5–42 s in the visible range of 0.38–0.62 ?m. Moreover, the dependence of the photoconductivity relaxation time on the illumination wavelength had a minimum relaxation time of 15.5 s when illuminated by green light with a wavelength of 0.5215 ?m. The reason for the dependence of the relaxation time of the monopolar photoconductivity on the wavelength is the competition of the processes of recombination and trapping of the main charge carriers on the so-called "slow" surface levels. The dominance of the recombination or trapping process is influenced by the characteristics of local centers, the surface conditions, the surface bending of the Ys zones, which determines the surface monopolar photoconductivity and its relaxation. In the long-wavelength region of the spectrum, the decrease in the photoconductivity relaxation time from 42 s to 15.5 s is explained by the dominance of the trapping process of the main charge carriers at "slow" surface levels, which are localized within 1 nm of the silicon surface in the SiOx transition layer. In the short-wavelength region of the spectrum, the slow increase in the photoconductivity relaxation time from 15.5 to 23.7 s is explained by the fact that the trapping of the main charge carriers in the "slow" surface states, which are localized in SiO2 and have a longer photoconductivity relaxation time, begins to influence the photoconductivity relaxation time. The level of sticking gradually turns into the level of slow recombination with a large absorption coefficient, reaching values of 3?105cm–1. The photoconductivity relaxation associated with surface levels changes with a change in the wavelength of illumination, which causes a change in the absorption coefficient, absorption depth, and surface bending of the Ys zones. Due to this, a spectral dependence was observed of the relaxation time of surface photoconductivity in the structure of macroporous silicon.

References

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(1)
Karas, N. I.; Karachevtseva, L. A.; Onyshchenko, V. F. Peculiarities of Surface Photoconductivity Relaxation in the Structures of Macroporous Silicon in the Visible Spectrum. Him. Fiz. Tehnol. Poverhni 2020, 11, 228-234.

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 2 (2020): Chemistry, Physics and Technology of Surface / Himia, Fizika ta Tehnologia Poverhni

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