Some structural, electrical and optical investigations on a new amorphous material: FeSi2

Abstract

Thin layers of FeSi₂ deposited at room temperature have an amorphous structure. These layers show a phase transformation into crystalline β-FeSi₂) on heating to high temperature. The electrical behaviour of amorphous layers is more similar to that of the metallic high-temperature phase (α-FeSi₂) than to that of the semiconducting one (β-FeSi₂). Intrinsic absorption in amorphous and polycrystalline layers has also been investigated. The observed properties of the amorphous and crystalline layers are interpreted in terms of a crude band model.