Thin-film silicon materials and their alloys underpin a diverse range of electronic systems, from active matrix flat-panel displays, through solar panels for the 'green-power' generation, to surface micromanaged MEMS devices. Thin-film silicon can possess a diverse range of structures, from being fully amorphous to fully polycrystalline, as well as allowing mixed-phase states, such as micro- and nanocrystalline silicon. Such diversity has made large-area electronics one of the fastest growing semiconductor technologies, although not without introducing some complexity. This book addresses issues related to both fundamental materials science and applied technology and offers an overview of studies on film growth and crystallization, materials characterization, defects, metastability and carrier transport, as well as devices such as solar cells and thin-film transistors. The importance of developing efficient solar cells is reflected in the number of reports that seek to improve lifetime and efficiency, as well as light trapping, in solar cells.

Amorphous, nano-, micro- and polycrystalline silicon thin films and associated alloys are used in a plethora of applications ranging from active matrix displays and imaging arrays to solar panels. These applications make large-area electronics the fastest growing semiconductor technology today, pushing material requirements and device performance to new limits. This book brings together researchers to share their expertise. Materials addressed include amorphous, nano-, micro- and polycrystalline silicon, and their alloys with germanium, carbon and other elements. Topics include: the understanding of growth processes; producing high-quality films at high growth rates or low temperatures; in situ characterization techniques for monitoring growth; understanding amorphous, mixed-phase and crystalline structures, along with the principles for augmenting crystallinity; developing post-deposition processes; identifying fundamental issues in electronic structure and carrier transport in 3D, 2D and 1D; understanding metastability and the role of hydrogen; integrating photovoltaic devices and thin-film electronics into systems on glass, flexible polymeric and other nonconventional substrates; and designing, fabricating and testing devices and applications.