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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
We have grown thin films of a-Si:H alloys by Remote Plasma Enhanced CVD (Remote PECVD) and have studied the deposition process by mass spectrometry. We find that the concentration of silane fragments (SiHx x=0 to 3) and higher silanes (e.g. disilane Si2H6) in the gas phase is below our detection limit of =0.5%. Bias experiments and a comparison of the a-Si:H deposition rate with the known concentration of silane in the gas phase suggest that in Remote PECVD, silane molecules, SiH4*, vibrationally excited in the gas phase or on the deposition surface may lead dirtectly to a-Si:H film deposition.