Polysilane like films with an optical bandgap of more than 3.0 eV have been prepared on a cooled substrate held at about -100°C by the rf glow discharge decomposition of 3% SiH
4 diluted with H
2. The infrared absorption spectra indicate that a number of SiH
3 units and polysilane (SiH
2)
n chains are incorporated in the matrix. Predominant incorporation of SiH
3 unit in the film indicates that the deposition precursor is SiH
3 created in the SiH
4 + H
2 plasma. Furthermore, the surface oxidized layer formed in air at room temperature is composed of SiO and Si
2O units, strongly suggesting the local oxidation of the polysilane chain.
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