• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.5-11
• /
• 2008

Thermally evaporated 10 nm-Ni/1 nm-Au/(30 nm-poly)Si structures were fabricated in order to investigate the thermal stability of Au-inserted nickel silicide. The silicide samples underwent rapid thermal annealing at $300{\sim}1100^{\circ}C$ for 40 seconds. The sheet resistance was measured using a four-point probe. A scanning electron microscope and a transmission electron microscope were used to determine the cross-sectional structure and surface image. High-resolution X-ray diffraction and a scanning probe microscope were employed for the phase and surface roughness. According to sheet resistance and XRD analyses, nickel silicide with Au had no effect on widening the NiSi stabilization temperature region. Au-inserted nickel silicide on a single crystal silicon substrate showed nano-dots due to the preferred growth and a self-arranged agglomerate nano phase due to agglomeration. It was possible to tune the characteristic size of the agglomerate phase with silicidation temperatures. The nano-thick Au-insertion was shown to lead to self-arranged microstructures of nickel silicide.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
• /
• v.46 no.11
• /
• pp.755-761
• /
• 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
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.323-330
• /
• 2007

We fabricated thermaly evaporated 10 nmNi/(poly)Si films to investigate the energy saving property of silicides formed by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at the temperature of $300{\sim}1200^{\circ}C$ for 40 seconds. Moreover, we fabricated $10{\sim}50$ nm-thick ITO/Si films with a rf-sputter as reference films. A four-point tester was used to investigate the sheet resistance. A transmission electron microscope (TEM) and an X-ray diffractometer were used for the determination of cross sectional microstructure and phase changes. A UV-VISNIR and FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared rays spectroscopy) were employed for near-IR and middle-IR absorbance. Through TEM analysis, we confirmed $20{\sim}70nm-thick$ silicide layers formed on the single and polycrystalline silicon substrates. Nickel silicides and ITO films on the single silicon substrates showed almost similar absorbance in near-IR region, while nickel silicides on polycrystalline silicon substrate showed superior absorbance above 850 nm near-IR region to ITO films. Nickel silicide on polycrystalline substrate also showed better absorbance in middle IR region than ITO. Our result implies that nano-thick nickel silicides may have exellent absorbing capacity in near-IR and middle-IR region.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.308-317
• /
• 2007

We fabricated thermally-evaporated 10 nm-Ni/(poly)Si and 10 nm-$Ni_{0.5}Co_{0.5}$/(Poly)Si structures to investigate the microstructure of nickel silicides at the elevated temperatures required lot annealing. Silicides underwent rapid annealing at the temperatures of $600{\sim}1100^{\circ}C$ 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 and an Auger depth profilescope were employed for the determination of vortical microstructure and thickness. Nickel silicides with cobalt on single crystal silicon actives and polycrystalline silicon gates showed low resistance up to $1100^{\circ}C$ and $900^{\circ}C$, respectively, while the conventional nickle monosilicide showed low resistance below $700^{\circ}C$. Through TEM analysis, we confirmed that a uniform, $10{\sim}15 nm$-thick silicide layer formed on the single-crystal silicon substrate for the Co-alloyed 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 $1000^{\circ}C$. Auger depth profile analysis also supports the presence of this mixed microstructure. Our result implies that our newly proposed NiCo-alloy composite silicide process may widen the thermal process window for the salicide process and be suitable for nano-thick silicides.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.69-79
• /
• 2008

A composition consisting of 10 nm-Ni/1 nm-Pd/(30 nm or 70 nm-poly)Si was thermally annealed using rapid thermal for 40 seconds at $300{\sim}1100^{\circ}C$ to improve the thermal stability of conventional nickel monosilicide. The annealed bilayer structure developed into $Ni(Pd)Si_x$, and the resulting changes in sheet resistance, microstructure, phase, chemical composition, and surface roughness were investigated. The silicide, which formed on single crystal silicon, could defer the transformation of $NiSi_2$, and was stable at temperatures up to $1100^{\circ}C$. It remained unchanged on polysilicon substrate compared with the sheet resistance of conventional nickel silicide. The silicides annealed at $700^{\circ}C$, formed on single crystal silicon and 30 nm polysilicon substrates exhibited 30 nm-thick uniform silicide layers. However, silicide annealed at $1,000^{\circ}C$ showed preferred and agglomerated phase. The high resistance was due to the agglomerated and mixed microstructures. Through X-ray diffraction analysis, the silicide formed on single crystal silicon and 30 nm polysilicon substrate, showed NiSi phase on the entire temperature range and mixed phases of NiSi and $NiSi_2$ on 70 nm polysilicon substrate. Through scanning probe microscope (SPM) analysis, we confirmed that the surface roughness increased abruptly until 36 nm on 30 nm polysilicon substrate while not changed on single crystal and 70 nm polysilicon substrates. The Pd-inserted nickel monosilicide could maintain low resistance in a wide temperature range and is considered suitable for nano-thick silicide processing.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.159-168
• /
• 2008

Thermally-evaporated 10 nm-Ni/1 nm-Ru/(30 nm or 70 nm-poly)Si structures were fabricated in order to investigate the thermal stability of Ru-inserted nickel monosilicide. The silicide samples underwent rapid thermal anne aling at $300{\sim}1,100^{\circ}C$ for 40 seconds. Silicides suitable for the salicide process were formed on the top of the single crystal and polycrystalline silicon substrates mimicking actives and gates. The sheet resistance was measured using a four-point probe. High resolution X-ray diffraction and Auger depth profiling were used for phase and chemical composition analysis, respectively. Transmission electron microscope and scanning probe microscope(SPM) were used to determine the cross-sectional structure and surface roughness. The silicide, which formed on single crystal silicon and 30 nm polysilicon substrate, could defer the transformation of $Ni_2Si $i and $NiSi_2 $, and was stable at temperatures up to $1,100^{\circ}C$ and $1,100^{\circ}C$, respectively. Regarding microstructure, the nano-size NiSi preferred phase was observed on single crystalline Si substrate, and agglomerate phase was shown on 30 nm-thick polycrystalline Si substrate, respectively. The silicide, formed on 70 nm polysilicon substrate, showed high resistance at temperatures >$700^{\circ}C$ caused by mixed microstructure. Through SPM analysis, we confirmed that the surface roughness increased abruptly on single crystal Si substrate while not changed on polycrystalline substrate. The Ru-inserted nickel monosilicide could maintain a low resistance in wide temperature range and is considered suitable for the nano-thick silicide process.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.179-185
• /
• 2009

We fabricated thermally evaporated 30 nm-Ni/(20 nm or 60 nm)a-Si:H/Si films to investigate the energy-saving property of silicides formed by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at temperatures of $350^{\circ}C$, $450^{\circ}C$, $550^{\circ}C$, and $600^{\circ}C$ for 40 seconds. A transmission electron microscope (TEM) and a high resolution X-ray diffractometer (HRXRD) were used to determine the cross-sectional microstructure and phase changes. A UVVIS-NIR and FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) were employed for near-IR and middle-IR absorbance. Through TEM and HRXRD analysis, for the nickel silicide formed at low temperatures below $450^{\circ}C$, we confirmed columnar-shaped structures with thicknesses of $20{\sim}30\;nm$ that had ${\delta}-Ni^2Si$ phases. Regarding the nickel silicide formed at high temperatures above $550^{\circ}C$, we confirmed that the nickel silicide had more than 50 nm-thick columnar-shaped structures with a $Ni_{31}Si_{12}$ phase. Through UV-VIS-NIR analysis, nickel silicide showed almost the same absorbance in the near IR region as well as ITO. However, in the middle IR region, the nickel silicides with low temperature showed similar absorbance to those from high temperature silicidation.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.110-114
• /
• 2007

Dependence of the thermal stability of nickel silicide on the film stress of inter layer dielectric (ILD) layer has been investigated in this study and silicon nitride $(Si_3N_4)$ layer is used as an ILD layer. Nickel silicide was formed with a one-step rapid thermal process at $500^{\circ}C$ for 30 sec. $2000{\AA}$ thick $Si_3N_4$ layer was deposited using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition after the formation of Ni silicide and its stress was split from compressive stress to tensile stress by controlling the power of power sources. Stress level of each stress type was also split for thorough analysis. It is found that the thermal stability of nickel silicide strongly depends on the stress type as well as the stress level induced by the $Si_3N_4$ layer. In the case of high compressive stress, silicide agglomeration and its phase transformation from the low-resistivity nickel mono-silicide to the high-resistivity nickel di-silicide are retarded, and hence the thermal stability is obviously improved a lot. However, in the case of high tensile stress, the thermal stability shows the worst case among the stressed cases.

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

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
• /
• v.47 no.5
• /
• pp.322-329
• /
• 2009

60 nm- and 20 nm-thick hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) layers were deposited on 200 nm $SiO_2/Si$ substrates using ICP-CVD (inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition). A 10 nm-Ni layer was then deposited by e-beam evaporation. Finally, 10 nm-Ni/60 nm a-Si:H/200 nm-$SiO_2/Si$ and 10 nm-Ni/20 nm a-Si:H/200 nm-$SiO_2/Si$ structures were prepared. The samples were annealed by rapid thermal annealing for 40 seconds at $200{\sim}500^{\circ}C$ to produce $NiSi_x$. The resulting changes in sheet resistance, microstructure, phase, chemical composition and surface roughness were examined. The nickel silicide on a 60 nm a-Si:H substrate showed a low sheet resistance at T (temperatures) >$450^{\circ}C$. The nickel silicide on the 20 nm a-Si:H substrate showed a low sheet resistance at T > $300^{\circ}C$. HRXRD analysis revealed a phase transformation of the nickel silicide on a 60 nm a-Si:H substrate (${\delta}-Ni_2Si{\rightarrow}{\zeta}-Ni_2Si{\rightarrow}(NiSi+{\zeta}-Ni_2Si)$) at annealing temperatures of $300^{\circ}C{\rightarrow}400^{\circ}C{\rightarrow}500^{\circ}C$. The nickel silicide on the 20 nm a-Si:H substrate had a composition of ${\delta}-Ni_2Si$ with no secondary phases. Through FE-SEM and TEM analysis, the nickel silicide layer on the 60 nm a-Si:H substrate showed a 60 nm-thick silicide layer with a columnar shape, which contained both residual a-Si:H and $Ni_2Si$ layers, regardless of annealing temperatures. The nickel silicide on the 20 nm a-Si:H substrate had a uniform thickness of 40 nm with a columnar shape and no residual silicon. SPM analysis shows that the surface roughness was < 1.8 nm regardless of the a-Si:H-thickness. It was confirmed that the low temperature silicide process using a 20 nm a-Si:H substrate is more suitable for thin film transistor (TFT) active layer applications.