Germanium-induced texture and preferential orientation of NiSi1-xGex layers on Si1-xGex

• NiSi1-xGex films on compressively strained as well as relaxed undoped Si1-xGex epitaxially grown substrates with x=0.06-0.30 on Si(001) wafers have been studied with respect to the relative orientation of film and substrate after annealing at temperatures in the range 400-850 degreesC. Using x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and pole-figure measurements, it was found that only the monogermanosilicide phase formed above 450 degreesC and was the only phase still at 850 degreesC. New information regarding the effects of Ge on the silicidation of Ni was also found. Thus, the preferred plane parallel to the surface is (013). Compared to NiSi, Ge suppresses the development of the other planes parallel to the surface except (013). Within this plane, the orientations of the grains pile up in such a way that the configuration NiSi1-xGex[100]//Si1-xGex[100] is avoided, which in the pole-figures leads to broad peaks in-between the substrate [100] and [010]. In addition, peaks indicating the epitaxial alignment NiSi0.8Ge0.2(+/-21-1) or (+/-2-11)//Si0.8Ge0.2(+/-2+/-20) coupled with NiSi0.8Ge0.2(+/-100)approximate to//Si0.8Ge0.2(+/-100) or (0+/-10) were found. Fine structure in the broad peaks is found to be due to lateral epitaxial alignments between grains along their common grain boundary. Based on the nonexistence of NiGe2, the observations are interpreted in terms of Ge preventing the formation of certain Ni-Ge bonds at the interface between NiSi1-xGex and the Si1-xGex substrate.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Den kondenserade materiens fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Condensed Matter Physics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

phase-stability

single-crystal

thin-films

nisi

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)