Nuclear radiation detectors using thick amorphous-silicon MIS devices

C. Hordequin, A. Brambilla, P. Bergonzo, F. Foulon

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    15 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Metal insulator semiconductor (MIS) devices made from hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) were developed for the detection of charged particles. Devices with a Cr/a-SiNx:H/a-Si:H structure and with varying thicknesses from 3 to 20 μm (a-Si:H layer) were fabricated using the radio-frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) technique. They were used for the detection of alpha particles (E = 5.5 MeV, 241Am source) and low-energy beta particles (E<; 156 keV, 14C). The characteristics of the MIS detectors were compared to that of PIN diodes made using the same PECVD apparatus and processes. MIS detectors appeared to be well suited for the detection of charged particles, with better properties than that of PIN diodes for low-energy alpha particle detection (E<; 2 MeV). MIS devices were shown to be a very interesting alternative to the commonly used PIN diodes, as they rely on a more straightforward fabrication process and setup, that in particular avoids the use of hazardous doping gases such as phosphine.

    Original languageBritish English
    Pages (from-to)284-289
    Number of pages6
    JournalNuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
    Volume456
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 1 Jan 2001

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