Indium-defect complexes in silicon studied by perturbed angular correlation spectroscopy

The formation of molecule-like complexes, consisting of a defect and a radioactive111In atom, is studied using the perturbedγγ angular correlation technique (PAC). The complexes are characterized by their defect specific electric field gradients which also contain information on the geometry of the formed complexes. Whereas the complex is formed with the111In atom, its electric field gradient is measured after the decay of the radioactive111In atom to111Cd. Formation and dissolution of the molecule-like complexes is pursued for a variety of different conditions, such as sample temperature, dopant concentration and position of the Fermi level. In particular, the interaction of In atoms with the following defects in Si was investigated: Intrinsic defects, created by particle irradiation; substitutional donor atoms (P, As, Sb, Bi); and interstitial impurity atoms (Li, H, and an unidentified X defect); especially, the latter ones are known to passivate acceptor atoms in Si. Methodology and specific properties of the PAC technique will be illustrated with the help of these examples.