Carrier-induced changes in the gap states of plasma-enhanced-chemical-vapor-deposited (PECVD) undoped a-Si:H films are systematically studied using isothermal capacitance transient spectroscopy (ICTS) method via the novel structure we proposed previously. The density-of-state distribution g (E) and the energy dependence of electron-capture cross section σn (E) of gap states in undoped a-Si:H films before and after injection of electrons are directly measured for the first time. Experimental results show that the density of g (E) increases but the σn (E) has no obvious change after the electron injection. These indicate that the defects created during the electron injection are the same in type as those of the as-deposited films. In addition, it is found the shape of g (E) distorts after the injection, implying that the gap states with different energy levels are associated with distinct types of defects.
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