• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.755-761
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• 2008

We fabricated thermally evaporated 10 nm-Ni/1 nm-Ir/(poly)Si films to investigate the energy saving property of silicides formed by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at the temperature range of $300{\sim}1200^{\circ}C$ for 40 seconds. Moreover, we fabricated 100 nm-thick ITO/(poly)Si films with an rf-sputter as references. A transmission electron microscope (TEM) and an X-ray diffractometer were used to determine cross-sectional microstructure and phase changes. A UV-VIS-NIR and FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) were employed for near-IR and middle-IR absorbance. Through TEM analysis, we confirmed 20~65 nm-thick silicide layers formed on the single and polycrystalline silicon substrates. Ir-inserted nickel silicide on single crystalline substrate showed almost the same absorbance in near IR region as well as ITO, but Ir-inserted nickel silicide on polycrystalline substrate, which had the uniform absorbance in specific region, showed better absorbance in near IR region than ITO. The Ir-inserted nickel silicide on polycrystalline substrate particularly showed better absorbance in middle IR region than ITO. The results imply that nano-thick Ir-inserted nickel silicides may have excellent absorbing capacity in near-IR and middle-IR region.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.207-214
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• 2007

We fabricated thermally-evaporated 10 -Ni/(poly)Si and 10 -Ni/1 -Ir/(poly)Si structures to investigate the microstructure of nickel monosilicide at the elevated temperatures required for annealing. Silicides underwent rapid at the temperatures of 300-1200 for 40 seconds. Silicides suitable for the salicide process formed on top of both the single crystal silicon actives and the polycrystalline silicon gates. A four-point tester was used to investigate the sheet resistances. A transmission electron microscope(TEM) and an Auger depth profile scope were employed for the determination of vertical section structure and thickness. Nickel silicides with iridium on single crystal silicon actives and polycrystalline silicon gates shoed low resistance up to 1000 and 800, respectively, while the conventional nickle monosilicide showed low resistance below 700. Through TEM analysis, we confirmed that a uniform, 20 -thick silicide layer formed on the single-crystal silicon substrate for the Ir-inserted case while a non-uniform, agglomerated layer was observed for the conventional nickel silicide. On the polycrystalline silicon substrate, we confirmed that the conventional nickel silicide showed a unique silicon-silicide mixing at the high silicidation temperature of 1000. Auger depth profile analysis also supports the presence of thismixed microstructure. Our result implies that our newly proposed iridium-added NiSi process may widen the thermal process window for the salicide process and be suitable for nano-thick silicides.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.1056-1063
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• 2006

Thermal evaporated 10 nm-Ni/l nm-Ir/(or polycrystalline)p-Si(100) and 10 nm-$Ni_{50}Co_{50}$/(or polycrystalline)p-Si(100) films were thermally annealed using rapid thermal annealing fur 40 sec at $300{\sim}1200^{\circ}C$. The annealed bilayer structure developed into Ni(Ir or Co)Si and resulting changes in sheet resistance, microstructure, phase and composition were investigated using a four-point probe, a scanning electron microscopy, a field ion beam, an X-ray diffractometer and an Auger electron spectroscope. The final thickness of Ir- and Co-inserted nickel silicides on single crystal silicon was approximately 20$\sim$40 nm and maintained its sheet resistance below 20 $\Omega$/sq. after the silicidation annealing at $1000^{\circ}C$. The ones on polysilicon had thickness of 20$\sim$55 nm and remained low resistance up to $850^{\circ}C$. A possible reason fur the improved thermal stability of the silicides formed on single crystal silicon substrate is the role of Ir and Co in preventing $NiSi_2$ transformation. Ir and Co also improved thermal stability of silicides formed on polysilicon substrate, but this enhancement was lessened due to the formation of high resistant phases and also a result of silicon mixing during high temperature diffusion. Ir-inserted nickel silicides showed surface roughness below 3 nm, which is appropriate for nano process. In conclusion, the proposed Ir- and Co- inserted nickel silicides may be superior over the conventional nickel monosilicides due to improved thermal stability.