• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.53-60
• /
• 2014

Different kinds of post-deposition annealing (PDA) by a rapid thermal process (RTP) are used to enhance the field-effect passivation of $Al_2O_3$ film in crystal Si solar cells. To characterize the effects of PDA on $Al_2O_3$ and the interface, metal-insulator semiconductor (MIS) devices were fabricated. The effects of PDA were characterized as functions of RTP temperature from $400{\sim}700^{\circ}C$ and RTP time from 30~120 s. A high temperature PDA can retard the passivation of thin $Al_2O_3$ film in c-Si solar cells. PDA by RTP at $400^{\circ}C$ results in better passivation than a PDA at $400^{\circ}C$ in forming gas ($H_2$ 4% in $N_2$) for 30 minutes. A high thermal budget causes blistering on $Al_2O_3$ film, which degrades its thermal stability and effective lifetime. It is related to the film structure, deposition temperature, thickness of the film, and annealing temperature. RTP shows the possibility of being applied to the PDA of $Al_2O_3$ film. Optimal PDA conditions should be studied for specific $Al_2O_3$ films, considering blistering.