Patent ID: 7422770

Claim:
A method of forming a microcrystalline thin film, comprising: supplying, during a first process, SiH 4 and H 2 to a chamber in which a substrate is located; during the first process, applying an electric field to break down the SiH 4 to SiH 2 ; supplying, during a second process, H 2 but not SiH 4 to the chamber; depositing a portion of the microcrystalline thin film during the second process, wherein depositing the portion comprises adsorbing the Sill 2 to a surface of the substrate to form microcrystals, and wherein the portion of the microcrystalline thin film is formed without converting amorphous silicon to the microcrystals; and performing the first process and second process a plurality of times to form the microcrystalline thin film having a target film thickness on the substrate.