Structural changes in Ge1−xSnx and Si1−x−yGeySnx thin films on SOI substrates treated by pulse laser annealing

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • O. Steuer - , Chair of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • D. Schwarz - , University of Stuttgart (Author)
  • M. Oehme - , University of Stuttgart (Author)
  • F. Bärwolf - , Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics (Author)
  • Y. Cheng - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • F. Ganss - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • R. Hübner - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • R. Heller - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • S. Zhou - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • M. Helm - , Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • G. Cuniberti - , Chair of Materials Science and Nanotechnology (Author)
  • Y. M. Georgiev - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (Author)
  • S. Prucnal - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)

Abstract

Ge1−xSnx and Si1−x−yGeySnx alloys are promising materials for future opto- and nanoelectronics applications. These alloys enable effective bandgap engineering, broad adjustability of their lattice parameter, exhibit much higher carrier mobility than pure Si, and are compatible with the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology. Unfortunately, the equilibrium solid solubility of Sn in Si1−xGex is less than 1% and the pseudomorphic growth of Si1−x−yGeySnx on Ge or Si can cause in-plane compressive strain in the grown layer, degrading the superior properties of these alloys. Therefore, post-growth strain engineering by ultrafast non-equilibrium thermal treatments like pulse laser annealing (PLA) is needed to improve the layer quality. In this article, Ge0.94Sn0.06 and Si0.14Ge0.8Sn0.06 thin films grown on silicon-on-insulator substrates by molecular beam epitaxy were post-growth thermally treated by PLA. The material is analyzed before and after the thermal treatments by transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD), Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and Hall-effect measurements. It is shown that after annealing, the material is single-crystalline with improved crystallinity than the as-grown layer.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number055303
JournalJournal of applied physics
Volume136
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - 7 Aug 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas