Patent · US Active

Methods of forming silicon nanocrystals by laser annealing

US7857907B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
21References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 25, 2007
Grant dateDec 28, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 6, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S977/891
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for forming a layered structure with silicon nanocrystals. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: (i) forming a first conductive layer on a substrate, (ii) forming a silicon-rich dielectric layer on the first conductive layer, and (iii) laser-annealing at least the silicon-rich dielectric layer to induce silicon-rich aggregation to form a plurality of silicon nanocrystals in the silicon-rich dielectric layer. The silicon-rich dielectric layer is one of a silicon-rich oxide film having a refractive index in the range of about 1.4 to 2.3, or a silicon-rich nitride film having a refractive index in the range of about 1.7 to 2.3. The layered structure with silicon nanocrystals in a silicon-rich dielectric layer is usable in a solar cell, a photodetector, a touch panel, a non-volatile memory device as storage node, and a liquid crystal display.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.