Mayo, N., Nuclear Research Center-Negev, P. O. B. 9001, Beer-Sheva, 84190, Israel
Carmi, U., Nuclear Research Center-Negev, P. O. B. 9001, Beer-Sheva, 84190, Israel
Rosenthal, I., Nuclear Research Center-Negev, P. O. B. 9001, Beer-Sheva, 84190, Israel
Avni, R., Nuclear Research Center-Negev, P. O. B. 9001, Beer-Sheva, 84190, Israel
Manory, R., Department of Materials Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P. O. B. 653, Beer-Sheva, 84107, Israel
Grill, A., Department of Materials Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P. O. B. 653, Beer-Sheva, 84107, Israel

The dissociation mechanism of silicontetrachloride to silicon by plasma with argon or in mixtures of argon and hydrogen was investigated by sampling the microwave induced plasma and its chemical components by (i) electrostatic double floating probe system (DFPS), (ii) quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS), and (iii) electron spin resonance (ESR). Plasma diagnostics, i.e., determination of mean electron energy and positive ion density, were performed by DFPS. The reaction rate for chlorosilane fragmentation, polymerization, and silicon formation, in the plasma state were evaluated by QMS sampling of the plasma along the gas flow. ESR was used to investigate the amounts of free radicals adsorbed on solid alumina from different regions of the plasma. Comparing the two plasmas {SiCl4+Ar} to {SiCl4+Ar+H2} it was found that the dissociation of SiCl4 to Si in the argon plasma is mainly controlled by an ion-molecule mechanism while the dissociation in the presence of H2 is mainly controlled by the radical mechanism.