Strained Ge and Ge1-xSnx Technology for Future CMOS Devices

Abstract

We have investigated the growth and crystalline structures of Ge1-xSnx buffer and tensile-strained Ge layers for future use in CMOS technology. We have demonstrated that strain relaxed Ge1-xSnx layers with an Sn content of 12.3% and 9.2% can be grown on Ge and Si substrates, respectively. We achieved a tensile-strain value of 0.71 % in Ge layers on a Ge0.932Sn0.068 buffer layer. We have also investigated the effects of Sn incorporation into Ge on the electrical properties of Ge1-xSnx heteroepitaxial layers.