Large surface photovoltages observed at methyl-terminated silicon surfaces synthesised through a two-step chlorination-alkylation method

Methylation of the silicon surface through a chlorination-alkylation method has been used to improve the electronic properties of silicon. Upon alkylation of the surface, an increase in the minority carrier recombination lifetime and the surface photovoltage is observed, in line with an increase in surface charge. A likely explanation of this unusually large band bending is charge accumulation during the removal of chlorine from the surface.