3d transition metal doping of semiconducting boron carbides

The introduction metallocenes, in particular ferrocene (Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(2)), cobaltocene (Co(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(2)), and nickelocene (Ni(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(2)), together with the carborane source molecule closo-1,2-dicarbadodecaborane, during plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, will result in the transition metal doping of semiconducting boron carbides. Here we report using ferrocene to introduce Fe dopants, and a semiconducting boron-carbide homojunction has been fabricated. The diode characteristics are very similar to those fabricated with Co and Ni doping. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.