DEPOSITION OF Al/SnAl OHMIC CONTACT ON SILICON FROM A LIQUID PHASE

Abstract

Background. Single- and multi-layer metal films are widely utilized in modern electronics and optoelectronics as ohmic contacts. As a rule, the films are deposited by thermal evaporation, ion sputtering and chemical vapour deposition. However the methods of deposition from a liquid phase are the most simple and cost-effective. Thus the ohmic contact deposition by these methods is still an actual problem. Objective. The purpose of the paper is to study the possibility of deposition of multi-layer ohmic metal films over a semiconductor wafer surface from a liquid phase, particularly by scanning liquid phase epitaxy technique. Methods. In this work we considered the influence of a long-term temperature gradient at the interface metallic solution-melt – semiconductor wafer on the possibility of deposition of multi-layer ohmic metal films on the semiconductor wafer surface during segmental contact between the solution-melt and the wafer. For this purpose we carried out the simulation of heat transport process, wafer wetting process as well as the process of wafer cleansing off the solution-melt taking into account capillary phenomena in the mask openings using the method of scanning liquid phase epitaxy. For experimental confirmation of adequacy of the model proposed we carried out the deposition of Al/SnAl layer on silicon wafer in the above mentioned conditions. Results. We have deposited the contact layer Al/SnAl on the surface of silicon wafer from Al-Sn solution-melt by scanning liquid phase epitaxy technique using supplementary heater for the wafer and mask installed in the apparatus. The contact layer is made as three identical pads located at different distance one from each other. By the analysis of current-voltage characteristic we determined that the metallic film contact with the semiconductor is a non-rectifying, i.e. ohmic contact. The specific contact resistance was determined by the Transmission Line Method using linear configuration of the contact pads (LTLM). Its value was 7.2∙10-4 Ohm·cm2. Conclusions. The principal possibility of obtaining of multi-layer ohmic contacts to the semiconductor by scanning liquid phase epitaxy technique in conditions of segmental contact between the solution-melt and the wafer as well as long-term gradient at the contact interface was shown. The conditions were realized by using extra heating of the wafer back side and the high-temperature mask through which the solution-melt contacted the wafer.