Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor processing with silicon cap over Si.sub.1-x Ge.sub.x Film

US5084411A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
7References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 29, 1988
Grant dateJan 28, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 29, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/902
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Improved devices with silicon to SiGe alloy heterojunctions are provided for in accordance with the following discoveries. X-ray topography and transmission electron microscopy were used to quantify misfit-dislocation spacings in as-grown Si.sub.1-x Ge.sub.x films formed by Limited Reaction Processing (LRP), which is a chemical vapor deposition technique. These analysis techniques were also used to study dislocation formation during annealing of material grown by both LRP and by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The thickness at which misfit dislocations first appear in as-grown material was similar for both growth techniques. The thermal stability of capped and uncapped films was also investigated after rapid thermal annealing in the range of 625.degree. to 1000.degree. C. Significantly fewer misfit dislocations were observed in samples containing an epitaxial silicon cap. Some differences in the number of misfit dislocations generated in CVD and MBE films were observed after annealing uncapped layers at temperatures between 625.degree. and 825.degree. C.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.