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Characterization of Ultrathin Strained-Si Channel Layers of n-MOSFETs Using Transmission Electron Microscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Dalaver H. Anjum
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Virginia, 116 Engineer's Way, Charlottesville, VA 22904 Present Address:The Burnham Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037
Jian Li
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Virginia, 116 Engineer's Way, Charlottesville, VA 22904
Guangrui Xia
Affiliation:
Microsystems Technology Laboratories, Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
Judy L. Hoyt
Affiliation:
Microsystems Technology Laboratories, Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
Robert Hull
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Virginia, 116 Engineer's Way, Charlottesville, VA 22904
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Abstract

Strained-Si based Field Effect Transistors (FETs) have enabled improvement of carrier transport in Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS)-based devices, both in the ON state of the device and in the sub-threshold region. This leads to devices with higher ratios of on-to-off current, improvements in the device sub-threshold slope, lower voltage operation, and carrier mobility enhancement. However, in order to understand the fundamental physics of these devices, it is important to address the stress conditions of the strained-Si channel layers after device processing, particularly after the ion-implantation process. In this work, we have studied Si+ self ion-implantation and thermally annealed strained-Si channel layers in n-MOSFETs. It has been observed that the density of defects in the strained-Si layer depends upon implant dose as well as thermal treatment. Using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) spectra, it is found that Ge is present in the strained Si layer when analyzed after Si+ implantation and rapid thermal annealing. The presence of Ge in the strained Si channel layer causes relaxation of strain. This is verified by Convergent Beam Electron Diffraction (CBED) by measuring the lattice constant of the strained channel. It is concluded that electron mobility enhancements can be degraded in n- MOSFETs due to presence of both Ge up-diffusion and defects.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

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