APPLICATIONS OF AMORPHOUS-SILICON DEVICES

Thin films of amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) and its alloys are currently used in a range of devices which include photovoltaic cells, photoreceptors, page-width image sensors and thin-film transistors for active matrix liquid-crystal displays. In the latter alone it is estimated that some $4 billion will be invested in the present fiscal year in putting these into large volume production. This paper will review the present applications of a-Si:H and briefly describe a number of others which will have been proposed for this material. The advantages and disadvantages of a-Si:H, compared with its competitors, and the material and technological issues of current importance, will be discussed.