Crystallization of InSb Phase Near the Bonding Interface of Silicon-on-Insulator Structure

The behavior of Sb and In atoms embedded into silicon-on-insulator structure (SOI) near the bonding interface was investigated as a function of annealing temperature. Two kinds of the ionimplanted SOI structures were prepared. First kind of the structures contained the buried SiO2 layer implanted with In+ and Sb+ ions near the top Si/SiO2 interface. In second kind, the ion-implanted regions were placed on each side of the bonding interface: Sb+ ions were implanted into Si film; In+ ions were implanted into SiO2 layer. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and crosssectional high-resolution electron microscopy (XTEM) were employed to study the properties of the prepared structures. The formation of InSb nanocrystals was observed within the SiO2 bulk from first kind of the SOI structures as annealing temperature increased to 1100o C. In the case of the double side implanted SOI structures, an increase in annealing temperature to 1100o C was accompanied by the up-hill diffusion of In atoms from the SiO2 bulk toward the bonding interface and by the endotaxial growth of InSb nanocrystals on the top Si/SiO2 interface. It was concluded from the experimental results that Sb atoms were the nucleation centers of InSb phase.