Characterization of amorphous and crystalline silicon nanoclusters in ultra thin silica layers

TL;DR

This study investigates the formation, structure, and defects of silicon nanocrystals and amorphous nanoclusters in ultra-thin silica layers, revealing conditions for crystallization and defect types relevant for electronic applications.

Contribution

It provides detailed characterization of silicon nanocrystals in silica layers, including nucleation conditions, defect analysis, and the effects of preparation parameters, using advanced TEM techniques.

Findings

Nanocrystals form above 50% silicon concentration.

Crystallization occurs above 800°C during heat treatment.

Defects such as twinning and stacking faults are present in nanocrystals.

Abstract

The nucleation and structure of silicon nanocrystals formed by different preparation conditions and silicon concentration (28 - 70 area %) have been studied using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy Filtered TEM (EFTEM) and Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS). The nanocrystals were formed after heat treatment at high temperature of a sputtered 10 nm thick silicon rich oxide on 3 nm SiO$_2$ layer made by Rapid Thermal Oxidation (RTO) of silicon. Nanocrystals precipitate when the excess silicon concentration exceeds 50 area %. Below this percentage amorphous silicon nanoclusters were found. In-situ heat treatment of the samples in the TEM showed that the crystallization requires a temperature above 800$^o$C. The nanocrystals precipitate in a 4 nm band, 5 nm from the Si substrate and 4 nm from the SiO$_2$ sample surface. The silicon nucleates where the excess Si concentration is the highest. The top surface has less excess Si due to reaction with oxygen from the ambient during annealing. The SiO$_2$-RTO layer is more Si rich due to Si diffusion from the SiO$_2$-Si layer into RTO. Twinning and stacking faults were found in nanocrystals with 4-10 nm in diameter. These types of defects may have large effects upon the usability of the material in electronic devices. Both single and double twin boundaries have been found in the nanocrystals by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Image simulations were carried out in order to obtain more information about the defects and nanocrystals. The stacking faults are extrinsic and located in the twin boundaries.