Face-to-face annealed sputtered BaSi2: Investigations on surface homogeneity, film properties, and annealing mechanisms

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Regarded as a promising candidate for absorber material in photovoltaic applications, BaSi2 confronts the challenge of high-quality material synthesis via low-cost processes. Here, we fabricated BaSi2 thin films through the industrially applicable sputtering technique with the face-to-face annealing (FTFA) approach. The employment of the FTFA approach leads to an improvement of the sputtered BaSi2 from perspectives of surface homogeneity and crystal quality. Various covers are applied in the FTFA, including BaSi2, glass, and Si, which causes alterations in the film's electrical and optical properties. These impacts of the FTFA method on sputtered BaSi2 films stem from two aspects, i.e., heat redistributions caused by the variation of thermal networks, and interfacial interactions within the confined space between the cover and the film. The FTFA approach provides a facile strategy for minimizing the impacts of BaSi2 surface oxidation during high-temperature processes. These results and findings can push forward the material development of BaSi2 and its photovoltaic applications.

Original languageEnglish
Article number125403
Pages (from-to)125403-1 - 125403-10
Number of pages10
JournalPhysical Review Materials
Volume4
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Face-to-face annealed sputtered BaSi2: Investigations on surface homogeneity, film properties, and annealing mechanisms'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this