Interface Investigation on SiGe/Si Multilayer Structures: Influence of Different Epitaxial Process Conditions

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2023 Dec 6;15(48):56567-56574. doi: 10.1021/acsami.3c14168. Epub 2023 Nov 21.

Abstract

SiGe/Si multilayer is the core structure of the active area of gate-all-around field-effect transistors and semiconductor quantum computing devices. In this paper, high-quality SiGe/Si multilayers have been grown by a reduced-pressure chemical vapor deposition system. The effects of temperature, pressure, interface processing (dichlorosilane (SiH2Cl2, DCS) and hydrogen chloride (HCl)) on improving the transition thickness of SiGe to Si interfaces were investigated. The interface quality was characterized by transmission electron microscopy/atomic force microscopy/high-resolution X-ray diffraction methods. It was observed that limiting the migration of Ge atoms in the interface was critical for optimizing a sharp interface, and the addition of DCS was found to decrease the interface transition thickness. The change of the interfacial transition layer is not significant in the short treatment time of HCl. When the processing time of HCl is increased, the internal interface is optimized to a certain extent but the corresponding film thickness is also reduced. This study provides technical support for the acquisition of an abrupt interface and will have a very favorable influence on the performance improvement of miniaturized devices in the future.

Keywords: RPCVD; SiGe/Si multilayer; epitaxy; gate-all-around (GAA) field-effect transistors (FETs); interface.