Electrical and chemical characterization of chemically passivated silicon surfaces

The surface composition of chemically passivated silicon substrates is investigated using XPS and FTIR techniques. The samples are passivated with methanol, quinhydrone-methanol and iodine-methanol solution after HF treatment. The minority carrier lifetimes of these chemically passivated silicon substrates are also measured. Quinhydrone-methanol solution provides a chemically inert surface and a considerably longer minority carrier lifetime.