A novel method for a smooth interface at poly-SiOx/SiO2 by employing selective etching

We have investigated the excimer laser recrystallization of slightly oxygen-added amorphous silicon (a-SiO_x) films for the application to the active layer of thin film transistors. We also propose a new method to reduce the surface roughness of poly-SiO_x films by etching the grain boundaries selectively. SEM images show that the Si-O bonds are well segregated into the poly-Si grain boundaries after laser crystallization and the surface morphology is remarkably improved after the selective buffered oxide etchant (BOE) etching of the grain boundaries. The electrical conductivity measurement shows that the activation energies of poly-SiO_x and poly-Si films have an identical value of 0.52 eV. This may confirm that oxygen-induced defects do not cause any difference in the electrical performance even at the oxygen concentration of 0.18 at.%. Moreover, the electrical mobility and subthreshold slope of poly-SiO_x TFTs are considerably improved by employing the proposed method, which smooths the poly-SiO_x/SiO₂ interface     

Design and fabrication of a novel high damage threshold HfO2/TiO2/SiO2 multilayer laser mirror

This paper describes a new method to design a laser mirror with high reflectivity, wide reflection bandwidth and high laser-induced damage threshold. The mirror is constructed by three materials of HfO2/TiO2/SiO2 based on electric field and temperature field distribution characteristics of all-dielectric laser high reflector. TiO2/SiO2 stacks act as the high reflector (HR) and broaden the reflection bandwidth, while HfO2/SiO2 stacks are used for increasing the laser resistance. The HfO2/TiO2/SiO2 laser mirror with 34 layers is fabricated by a novel remote plasma sputtering deposition. The damage threshold of zero damage probability for the new mirror is up to 39.6 J/cm2 (1064 nm, 12 ns). The possible laser damage mechanism of the mirror is discussed.     

Avalanche-injected electron currents in SiO2 at high injection densities

Gated P⁺-N diodes in silicon were used to investigate the avalanche-injection of electrons into SiO₂ at high current densities. The acceptor concentration in the P⁺-region of the diodes was high in order to minimize surface depletion there by the relatively high positive gate voltage during the injection. Injection current densities up to 10 A/cm² were obtained. The oxide current vs. gate voltage characteristics are described quantitatively by a simple model in which the current is injection-limited. Hot electrons from the avalanche plasma in the junction lose energy by inelastic collisions and gain energy by drift in the surface potential. Both processes are assumed to occur in a layer of thickness equal to the surface depletion layer thickness in the P⁺-region. The temperature dependence of the injection current is ascribed to the temperature dependence of the energy loss term.     

脉冲激光诱导TiO2/SiO2薄膜表面损伤性能实验

高功率的激光系统对光学元件的抗激光损伤性能的要求不断提高。主要研究薄膜在脉冲激光诱导作用下的损伤特性及其机理,实验采用YAG脉冲激光器对TiO2/SiO2薄膜样片进行1-on-1方式的激光诱导。实验结果表明:采用低能量激光诱导对薄膜的光学透过率影响不大。经低能量激光诱导后,薄膜的表面结构缺陷得以修复,表面结构趋于完整,变得均匀和细腻。脉冲激光诱导TiO2/SiO2薄膜样片,激光能量阶较小时,其损伤阈值随能量增加而增加,损伤阈值最大可增加1倍;激光能量阶较大时,其损伤阈值随能量增加而减小。     

Effect of PECVD of SiO2 passivation layers on GaN and InGaP

Thin (200 ) layers of SiO₂ were deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition onto GaN and InGaP patterned with transmission line measurement contact pads. The sheet resistance of n-GaN and n- and p-InGaP was measured as a function of N₂O/SiH₄ ratio, rf chuck power, pressure and substrate temperature during the SiO₂ deposition. The sheet resistance ratio before and after the deposition varied from 0.7 to 1.2, reflecting a competition between mechanisms that decrease doping (hydrogen passivation, ion-induced deep traps) and those that increase it (creation of shallow donor states in n-type material through preferential ion of the group V elements, gettering of hydrogen in p-type material). Under most conditions, SiO₂ deposition creates minimal changes to the electrical properties of GaN and InGaP.     

Reactive ion etching of III-V compounds using C2H6/H2

Reactive ion etching of InP, GaInAs and GaAs using a mixture of ethane and hydrogen, C₂H₆/H₂, is demonstrated for the first time. It has been found that by choosing optimum etching parameters one can obtain excellent vertical sidewalls as well as very smooth surfaces, keeping the etching rate at a convenient value of 20-60 nm/min     

High quality silicon nitride deposited by Ar/N2/H2/SiH4 high-density and low energy plasma at low temperature

The high-quality PECVD silicon nitride has been deposited by high-density and low-ion-energy plasma at 400 °C and the effect of the process parameters, such as silane and nitrogen flow rate, pressure, on its structure and electrical properties has been investigated. The experimental results show that silane flow rate is the most sensitive parameter for determining deposition rate and N/Si atomic ratio of silicon nitride in the range of process parameters employed. The change of nitrogen flow rate leaded to slightly change in deposition rate, however, it effects significantly on the refractive index or densification of silicon nitride. With the addition of hydrogen gas in plasma, the hysteresis of C-V characteristics of MIS structure decreases from 0.4 to 0.1 V. The moderate increment of ion energy makes further reduction in the hysteresis of C-V characteristics of MIS from 0.1 V to below 0.05 V. The interface trap density of 6.2×10¹⁰ (ev⁻¹ cm^-2), deduced from the high frequency and quasistatic C-V characteristics of the MIS structure, is about the same as that of LPECVD silicon nitride deposited at the range of 750-850 °C. The stoichiometric silicon nitride of excellence electric and structural properties is obtained by Ar/N₂/H₂/SiH₄ high-density and low ion energy plasma.     

Mechanism of selective Si3N4 etching over SiO2 in hydrogen-containing fluorocarbon plasma

This paper describes the mechanism of selective Si₃N₄ etching over SiO₂ in capacitively-coupled plasmas of hydrogen-containing fluorocarbon gas, including CHF₃, CH₂F₂ and CH₃F. The etch rate of Si₃N₄ and SiO₂ is investigated as a function of O₂ percentage in all plasma gases. Addition of O₂ in feed gases causes plasma gas phase change especially H density. The SiO₂ etch rate decreases with increase of O₂ percentage due to the decline of CF_x etchant. The Si₃N₄ etch rate is found to be strong correlated to the H density in plasma gas phase. H can react with CN by forming HCN to reduce polymer thickness on Si₃N₄ surface and promote the removal of N atoms from the substrate. Thus the Si₃N₄ etch rate increases with H intensity. As a result, a relative high selectivity of Si₃N₄ over SiO₂ can be achieved with addition of suitable amount of O₂ which corresponds to the maximum of H density.     

Optically induced charge storage in ion implanted SiO2

Charge storage in MOS structures with an ion implanted oxide layer has been investigated. The electrons generated by internal photoemission are captured in SiO₂ traps which are created by the implantation of Kr⁺ and N⁺ ions at energies of 50–290 keV and a fluence up to 10¹⁴ cm^?2. The charge storage results in a voltage shift of the high frequency C-V-curve. The dependence of electron storage on exposure time has been measured and compared with approximative calculations. The discharge of traps occurs by heating treatment and hints at the existence of deep oxide traps combined with structural lattice defects.     

在SiO2中掺A1对Au／纳米（SiO2／Si／SiO2）／p—Si结构电致发光的影响

利用射频磁控溅射方法,制成纳米SiO2层厚度一定而纳米Si层厚度不同的纳米（SiO2/Si/SiO2）/p-Si结构和纳米（SiO2:A1/Si/SiO2:A1)/p-Si结构,用磁控溅射制备纳米SiO2:A1时所用的SiO2/A1复合靶中的A1的面积百分比为1%。上述两种结构中Si层厚度均为1-3nm,间隔为0.2nm。为了对比研究,还制备了Si层厚度为零的样品。这两种结构在900℃氮气下退火30min,正面蒸半透明Au膜,背面蒸A1作欧姆接触后,都在正向偏置下观察到电致发光（EL）。在一定的正向偏置下,EL强度和峰位以及电流都随Si层厚度的增加而同步振荡,位相相同。但掺A1结构的发光强度普遍比不掺A1结构强。另外,这两种结构的EL具体振荡特性有明显不同,对这两种结构的电致发光的物理机制和SiO2中掺A1的作用进行了分析和讨论。     

CVD TiN layers as diffusion barrier films on porous SiO2 aerogel

In this work the compatibility of MOCVD TiN barrier films on porous SiO₂ aerogel as low-k dielectric was investigated. The continuity, roughness, and sheet resistance, R_s, of the barrier as well as the electrical properties of the aerogel were investigated. A continuous TiN barrier on uncapped and PECVD SiN capped aerogel exists at 30 and ≤20 nm, respectively. The high surface roughness of the TiN is caused by the aerogel layer. TiN penetration into uncapped aerogel was detected in the interface region, whereas capped low-k material shows no interaction with the barrier film.     

Characterization of reactive ion etching of benzocyclobutente in SF6/O2 plasmas

This paper reports the reactive ion etching (RIE) characteristics of benzocyclobutene (BCB) in sulfur hexafluoride/oxygen (SF₆/O₂) plasmas. The dependence of etching rate and etch anisotropy on the processing parameters, including RF power, chamber pressure, and SF₆ concentration, are investigated comprehensively ranging from 50 to 200 W, 22.5 to 270 mTorr, and 0% to 80%, respectively. The BCB etching rate increases with chamber pressure and RF power in spite of nonlinearity, but decreases with the increase in SF₆ concentration. Anisotropic etching can be achieved using low chamber pressure, large RF power, and high SF₆ concentration. To avoid grass-like residue that happens at low pressure and large power fluorine-poor conditions, processing parameters with respect to residue-free etching are recommended. The etching mechanisms of the dependence of the etching characteristics on the processing parameters are discussed. Optimal processing parameters are presented as a guideline for isotropic etching of BCB as sacrificial layers to release structures and for anisotropic etching of BCB to precisely control etching dimensions and profiles.     

Influence of temperature on the etching rate of SiO2 in CF4 + O2 plasma

The plasmochemical etching of SiO₂ in CF₄ + O₂ plasma is considered. During the experiment SiO₂ films are etched in CF₄ + O₂ plasma at temperatures of 300 and 350 K. The dependences of plasmochemical etching rates of SiO₂ on O₂ content in the feed are measured. The experimental measurements are compared with theoretical calculations. The obtained theoretical results are used to predict the real dimensions of etched trenches. It is found that decrease in temperature reduces lateral undercutting due to decreased desorption of formed SiF₄ molecules from the sidewalls.     

Fabrication of Ge-MOS capacitors with high quality interface by ultra-thin SiO2/GeO2 bi-layer passivation combined with the subsequent SiO2-depositions using magnetron sputtering

Ge-MOS capacitors were fabricated by a novel method of ultra-thin SiO₂/GeO₂ bi-layer passivation (BLP) for Ge surface combined with the subsequent SiO₂-depositions using magnetron sputtering. For the Ge-MOS capacitors fabricated by BLP with O₂, to decrease oxygen content in the subsequent SiO₂ deposition is helpful for improving interface quality. By optimizing process parameters of the Ge surface thermal cleaning, the BLP, and the subsequent SiO₂ deposition, interface states density of 4 × 10¹¹ cm⁻² eV⁻¹ at around mid-gap was achieved, which is approximately three times smaller than that of non-passavited Ge-MOS capacitors. On the contrary, for the Ge-MOS capacitors fabricated by BLP without O₂, interface quality could be improved by an increase in oxygen contents during the subsequent SiO₂ deposition, but the interface quality was worse compared with BLP with O₂.     

TiO_2/SiO_2、ZrO_2/SiO_2多层介质膜光学损耗及激光损伤研究

以TiO_2/SiO_2及ZrO_2/SiO_2多层介质膜为例,测试了不同工艺条件及不同膜系结构下薄膜样品的光学损耗及激光损伤阈值,同时对实验结果作了初步的分析讨论.     

Reactive ion etching of Ta-Si-N diffusion barriers in CHF3+O2

Reactive ion etching of Ta₃₆Si₁₄N₅₀ diffusion barrier layers was performed in CHF₃+O₂ plasmas. Etch depths and rates were determined as a function of etch gas composition, cathode power, and etching time. Etching proceeds only after an initial delay which depends on gas composition and cathode power. This delay is attributed to the presence of a native surface oxide which must first be removed before etching can commence. Maximum etch rate was attained at 62.5% O₂ concentration, which also corresponds to minimum delay