Dopant Activation Depth Profiling for Highly Doped Si:P By Scanning Spreading Resistance Microscopy (SSRM) and Differential Hall Effect Metrology (DHEM)

Heavily P-doped epitaxial Si layers were deposited over counter-doped Si substrates. P dopant activation was studied as a function of various processes used to prepare the samples. For electrical characterization, depth profiles of carrier concentration values were obtained using SSRM and DHEM techniques. Samples studied included an in-situ doped sample, a sample that was spike annealed at 1000ºC, a sample that was first coated with a Ti/TiN stack and then annealed for silicide formation before the Ti/TiN stack was removed, and a sample that was spike annealed + coated with Ti/TiN + annealed for silicide formation before the removal of the Ti/TiN stack. DHEM analysis showed substantial increase in dopant activation for spike annealed samples. SSRM results suggested lower carrier concentration values and more limited degree of activation. Formation of Ti/TiN contacts and its removal did not affect the carrier concentration values for the as-deposited epi layer. Sample that was first spike annealed and then subjected to contact formation process displaced a reduction in carrier concentration values as measured by DHEM. © 2022 ECS - The Electrochemical Society.