Wasutep Luangtip. Investigation of metal diffusion in amorphous silicon thin film. Master's Degree(Physics). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2009-03-31.
Investigation of metal diffusion in amorphous silicon thin film
Abstract:
Metal/silicon interface forms the basis of a large number of materials for the microelectronic industry. In addition to device applications, there is also basic interest in understanding diffusion processes relevant to the metal/silicon interface. The purpose of this work is to investigate the diffusion of metal into amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin film at the elevated temperature by in-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry (in-situ SE). Metal/a-Si interfaces, Al/a-Si and Ag/a-Si films, were prepared by RF, DC and DC Pulse sputtering. After heating the samples in vacuum and nitrogen atmosphere, diffusion of Al or Ag in the a-Si film was measured with temperature and time. The dynamic of the temperature induced diffusion process was investigated by SE modeling and simulation. The diffused layer was modeled by Bruggeman Effective Medium Approximation theory. For accurate data of a-Si, Al and Ag, the single layer film of these materials were separately prepared and analyzed. Furthermore, each film was also heated to study the effect of temperature on its optical properties. The results show that Ag diffused into a-Si film at temperatures above 400ºC while Al diffused into a-Si film at temperatures as low as 100ºC. It was found that the diffusion of both metals continued until saturation, at which point the SE measurement became stable as the sample was held at high temperature. SE simulation of the diffusion of Al into a-Si film was carried out successfully and agreed with the prediction by nonsteady-state diffusion theory. Analyzing the atomic concentration, AES confirmed the metal diffusion at the interface after heating. TEM images also show the diffused layer in the heated sample in contrast with the sharp interface of the Pre-heated sample. However, SE simulation of heating Ag on a a-Si sample was not as successful as the Al/a-Si sample, probably due to added complications from the metastable phases of silver silicide included in the diffused layer and/or metal oxidation.