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Interactions in and Interfacial Structure of Annealed Co / a-Si3N4 Studied by Hrtem

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2011

Tai D. Nguyen
Affiliation:
Center for X-Ray Optics, MS 2–400, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720. Department of Materials Science and Mineral Engineering, and Applied Science & Technology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720.
Tue Nguyen
Affiliation:
IBM Semiconductor Research and Development Center, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533.
Herbert L. Ho
Affiliation:
IBM Semiconductor Research and Development Center, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533.
Ronald Gronsky
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Mineral Engineering, and Applied Science & Technology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720.
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Abstract

Interactions between Co and a-Si3N4 films during Rapid Thermal Anneal (RTA) in N2 and Ar ambients, and during vacuum anneal, have been studied using plan-view and cross-sectional Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Annealing in the temperature range 600–1000°C reveals agglomeration of the 12.5 nm Co layer and partial exposure of the nitride layer to the surface. Morphological damage of the Co/Si3N4 interface, and diffusion of Co into the nitride layer and possibly to the Si substrate, were observed after high temperature anneals. Phases of Co and CoSi2 were identified from the plan-view electron diffaction patterns. The Co/Si3N4 interaction seems to occur at lower temperature when annealed in vacuum. The microstructures and morphology of the layers and interfaces are presented. The mechanism for the diffusion of Co into the nitride layer is proposed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1993

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References

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