Semiconductor Physics, Quantum Electronics & Optoelectronics. 2014. V. 17, N 3. P. 295-300.
https://doi.org/10.15407/spqeo17.03.295


                                                                 

Transformation of SiOx films into nanocomposite SiO2 (Si) films under thermal and laser annealing
O.V. Steblova1 , A.A. Evtukh1 , O.L. Bratus' 1 , L.L. Fedorenko1 , M.V. Voitovych1 , O.S. Lytvyn1 , O.O. Gavrylyuk2 , O.Yu. Semchuk2

1V. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, NAS of Ukraine,
41, prospect Nauky, 03028 Kyiv, Ukraine, e-mail: a.evtukh@i.ua
2Chuiko Institute of Surface Chemistry, NAS of Ukraine
17, General Naumov str., 03164 Kyiv, Ukraine; e-mail: oleksandr_gavrylyuk@mail.ru

Abstract. Oxide-assisted growth of Si nanocrystals includes deposition of a silicon- enriched SiOx film at the first stage and annealing at the second one. The ion-plasma sputtering method has been used for deposition of the SiOx film. The influence of thermal and laser annealing on SiOx film properties has been investigated. Formation of silicon nanoislands on oxide film surface has been observed by AFM both after thermal and laser annealing. The height and surface density of the nanoislands depends both on the silicon content in the initial SiOx film and temperature of thermal annealing. The higher annealing temperature causes formation of large nanoislands, but their surface density decreases. Comparison of nanoislands created at thermal and laser annealing shows that in case of laser annealing the nanoislands are higher and their surface density is lower. The intensity of laser irradiation influences on nanoisland parameters significantly. The growth of electrical conductivity with thermal annealing temperature has been observed. The influence of gas atmosphere during annealing is also significant in case of higher temperatures. In case of laser annealing at the beginning at low laser irradiation intensities, the SiOx film conductivity increases, but the following growth of intensity causes the decrease in electrical conductivity.

Keywords: silicon nanoclusters, nanocomposite films, ion-plasma sputtering, thermal annealing, laser annealing, IR spectroscopy, AFM, electrical conductivity.

Manuscript received 22.01.14; revised version received 22.07.14; accepted for publication 16.09.14; published online 30.09.14.

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