Abstract
We report here on the first study of the interfacial reactions of nanoscale Ni metal dots on single-crystal Si 1-x C x (1 0 0) substrates at various heat treatments. The formation of high-resistivity NiSi 2 phase was found to be more favorable for the miniature size Ni nanodots. The incorporation of C to Si substrates exhibited significant beneficial effects on improving the thermal stability of low-resistivity NiSi nanocontacts. The process window of low-resistivity NiSi in the Ni nanodots/Si 1-x C x (1 0 0) sample was greatly extended by 200-250°C as compared to that in the Ni nanodots/Si(1 0 0) sample. The presence of C atoms is thought to lower the NiSi nanocontact/Si 1-x C x interface energy and/or to block the Ni diffusion paths during high temperature annealing. For the Ni nanodots/Si 1-x C x (1 0 0) sample annealed at 900°C, highly curled and tangled amorphous SiO x nanowires with diameters of 8-20 nm were found to form. The growth process of these amorphous SiO x nanowires could be explained by the solid-liquid-solid (SLS) mechanism.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 8713-8718 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Applied Surface Science |
Volume | 258 |
Issue number | 22 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Sep 2012 |
Keywords
- Nanocontact
- Nanosphere lithography
- Ni silicide
- Phase formation