Phase stability, bonding and electrical conduction of amorphous carbon-added Sb films

A study of the phase stability, chemical bonding and mechanisms of electrical conduction of carbon-added amorphous Sb films was carried out. Addition of carbon, which results in the formation of C–Sb bonds, hinders long-range Sb–Sb ordering. This leads to enhanced thermal stability of amorphous Sb film. The crystallization temperature of Sb–C films with 0, 8 and 13 at.% C are ∼25, 256 and 262 °C, respectively. The electrical conductivity of Sb92C8 film is p-type, showing an increase of more than 4 orders of magnitude in carrier concentration upon crystallization corresponding to the observed resistance drop.