Back to Search Start Over

Valence band offset and interface stoichiometry at epitaxial Si3N4/Si(111) heterojunctions formed by plasma nitridation.

Authors :
Hong-Mao Lee
Cheng-Tai Kuo
Hung-Wei Shiu
Chia-Hao Chen
Shangjr Gwo
Source :
Applied Physics Letters; 11/30/2009, Vol. 95 Issue 22, p222104, 3p, 1 Black and White Photograph, 1 Chart, 3 Graphs
Publication Year :
2009

Abstract

Ultrathin β-Si<subscript>3</subscript>N<subscript>4</subscript>(0001) epitaxial films formed by N<subscript>2</subscript>-plasma nitridation of Si(111) substrates have been studied by photoelectron spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation. The valence band offset at the β-Si<subscript>3</subscript>N<subscript>4</subscript>/Si interface was determined by valence-band photoelectron spectra to be 1.8 eV. Furthermore, the Si 2p core-level emissions were analyzed for nitride (Si<superscript>4+</superscript>) and subnitride (Si<superscript>3+</superscript> and Si<superscript>+</superscript>) components to characterize the interface stoichiometry. In contrast to the interfaces formed by ammonia thermal nitridation and N<subscript>2</subscript>-plasma nitridation at room temperature, the interface formed by N<subscript>2</subscript>-plasma nitridation at high substrate temperature is very close to subnitride free with an abrupt composition transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00036951
Volume :
95
Issue :
22
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Applied Physics Letters
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
45610558
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3269601