Optical Properties of Plasma-Deposited Silicon-Oxygen Alloy Films

Abstract
Hydrogenated amorphous silicon-oxygen alloy films are prepared by r.f. glow discharge decomposition of a SiH4–CO2 gas mixture. The optical properties of these films are discussed in terms of oxygen content. The Lorentz-Lorenz theory is the best approximation to the dependence of the refractive index on the oxygen content. The existence of silicon-rich and oxygen-rich phases is probable in the amorphous alloy films.