Abstract
The thermal oxidation of Ge$_{0.2}$Si$_{0.8}$ in wet ambient has been investigated by Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry(RBS). A uniform Ge$_{0.2}$Si$_{0.8}$O$_{2}$ oxide is formed at temperatures below 650.deg. C for polycrystalline and below 700.deg. C for single crystalline substrates. At higher temperatures Ge becomes depleted from the oxide and finally SiO$_{2}$ oxide is formed with Ge piled-ub behind it. The transition between the different oxide types depends also on the crystallinity of Ge$_{0.2}$Si$_{0.8}$. When a uniform Ge$_{0.2}$Si$_{0}$8/O$_{2}$ oxide grows, its thickness is proportional to the square root of the oxidation time, which suggests that the rate noting process is the diffusive transport of oxidant across the oxide. It is believed the oxidation is controlled by the competition between the diffusion of Ge or Si in Ge$_{0.2}$Si$_{0.8}$ and the movement of oxidation front.t.oxidation front.t.