Abstract
Co/Ti bilayer structure in Co salicide process helps to the improvement of device speed by lowering contact resistance due to the epitaxial growth of $CoSi_2$layers. We investigated the epitaxial growth and interfacial mass transport of $CoSi_2$layers formed from $150 \AA$-Co/Ti structure with two step rapid thermal annealing (RTA). The thicknesses of Ti layers were varied from 20 $\AA$ to 100 $\AA$. After we confirmed the appropriate deposition of Ti film even below $100\AA$-thick, we investigated the cross sectional microstructure, surface roughness, eptiaxial growth, and mass transportation of$ CoSi_2$films formed from various Ti thickness with a cross sectional transmission electron microscopy XTEM), scanning probe microscopy (SPM), X-ray diffractometery (XRD), and Auger electron depth profiling, respectively. We found that all Ti interlayer led to$ CoSi_2$epitaxial growth, while $20 \AA$-thick Ti caused imperfect epitaxy. Ti interlayer also caused Co-Ti-Si compounds on top of $CoSi_2$, which were very hard to remove selectively. Our result implied that we need to employ appropriate Ti thickness to enhance the epitaxial growth as well as to lessen Co-Ti-Si compound formation.