Effect of Au contamination on the electrical characteristics of a model small-angle grain boundary in n-type direct silicon bonded wafer

We have investigated the electrical characteristics of a model small-angle grain boundary (GB) in n-type direct silicon bonded wafers with intentional Au contamination. It is found that the Au aggregated at the GB can cause new acceptorlike states, developing a potential barrier. The density of Au-related GB states is about 1-2 X 10(12) cm(-2) eV(-1) in the energy range of E-c-0.65-E-c-0.33 eV. With the energy level becoming deeper, the corresponding electron capture cross-section becomes larger, in the order of magnitude 10(-16)-10(-15) cm(2). It is believed that Au contamination has strong influence on the electrical properties of GB. These results are interesting for the GB engineering of n-type multicrystalline silicon solar cells for terrestrial application. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3471817]