2021 Virtual Undergraduate Research Symposium
2021 Virtual Undergraduate Research Symposium
The Effects of Rapid Thermal Annealing on the Structure of Thin Film Silicon Clathrate
The Effects of Rapid Thermal Annealing on the Structure of Thin Film Silicon Clathrate
PROJECT NUMBER: 13 | AUTHOR: Jessica Richman, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
MENTOR: Carolyn Koh, Chemical and Biological Engineering and Reuben Collins, Physics
ABSTRACT
Silicon clathrate is an allotrope of silicon consisting of a cage-like structure and is of interest due to its direct band-gap and high absorption with possible applications in photovoltaics. However, at high temperatures around 600°C, silicon clathrate converts to diamond silicon. The method used involves using a rapid thermal annealer to heat the clathrate sample to higher temperatures in a shorter amount of time to prevent the change into diamond silicon. The results are shown using X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra. Rapid thermal annealing in the temperature range of 580°C to 590°C caused conversions between the three phases of silicon clathrate, amorphous silicon, and diamond silicon, but needs to be studied in greater detail.
PRESENTATION
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Jessica Richman is a sophomore studying Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. She worked on an interdisciplinary project in the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department and the Physics Department related to the effects of rapid thermal annealing on the structure of thin film silicon clathrate.
This is a well designed poster. I am curious about the application to photovoltaics. Would you please be more specific? Beyond photo voltaics, can this rapid annealing process on thin film silicone clathrate be useful? What are the environmental considerations in this process?
Hi Dr. Battalora,
Thank you for your questions. The potential application of silicon clathrate in photovoltaics is due to the direct bandgap and high absorption being in the range needed for photovoltaics. An additional use/benefit to the rapid annealing could be repairing local damage in the crystal structure. In terms of environmental considerations, there are no harmful effects of this process to my knowledge.
Hi Jessica, great presentation! The graphs were clear and easy to follow along with. Are there any significant byproducts that were found in this study?
Hi Varsha,
Thanks for your comments. I do not believe there are any biproducts in this process, as the annealing only showed conversions between the various structures of silicon.