Effect of implantation energy and dose on low-dose SIMOX structures

Abstract

In order to form silicon (Si)-on-insulator (SOI) layers with various thicknesses, oxygen implantation with doses between 1.0×1017/cm2 and 6.0×1017/cm2 and at energies between 40 and 240 keV has been carried out into 300 mm diameter (100)Si wafers at a temperature of 560 °C. After implantation, Si wafers are annealed in dry Ar mixed with 1% O2 at a temperature of 1350 °C for 4 h. The quality of buried oxide (BOX) layers and the microstructure in implanted layers before and after annealing is characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The results reveal that the appreciable number of threading dislocations (TDs) is generated in SOI layers implanted at energies above 200 keV under the optimum dose-energy conditions for the continuous BOX layer formation. Whereas, in the case of discontinuous BOX layers, the TD generation is observed in samples implanted at energies above 120 keV. The generation of TDs is discussed with the emphasis on the effect of implantation energy.