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At least 55 records · Page 3

Improved characterization of the Si-SiO2 interface

Refined quasi-static and conductance methods, based on effectively thin composite insulating layers, low-carrier-concentration bulk semiconductors, and low-level illumination, have been applied to an improved characterization of the (100) Si-SiO2 interface. Accurate measurement of both the total density of interface states and its major components as a function of energy in the forbidden gap have been made over four decades (10-billion to 100-trillion states/eV sq cm) on a single sample. The normal U-shaped density of states is resolved into separate valence- and conduction-band-derived contributions as well as impurity-derived contributions corresponding to concentrations on the order of 20 ppm at the interface.

Su, P.↗

XPS Study of SiO2 and the Si/SiO2 Interface

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is analytical technique for understanding electronic structure of atoms close to surface in solids, in preference to bulk structure of material. Study found evidence for core-level chemical shifts arising from changes in local structural environment in amorphous SiO2 and at Si/SiO2 interface. Observed XPS spectra may be understood as sequential convolution of several functions, each with well-defined physical interpretation.

Grunthaner, F. J.↗

XPS study of interface formation of CVD SiO2 on InSb

The interfacial chemistry of CVD SiO2 films deposited on thin native oxides grown on InSb substrates is examined using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and a relatively benign chemical etching technique for depth profiling. An intensity analysis of XPS spectra is used to derive the compositional structure of the interfaces obtained in the SiO2/native oxide/InSb system. Peak positions in these spectra are used to follow the change in substrate surface potential during the etch sequence, and to establish the chemical nature of the species formed during deposition and subsequent processing. Reaction of the substrate with oxygen resulted in an In-rich native oxide and 1-2 monolayers of excess elemental Sb at the native-oxide/substrate interface, incompletely oxidized silane reduced the native oxide, leaving less than 1 monolayer of elemental In at the SiO2/native oxide interface. Etch removal of this thin In-rich layer leads to a change in the substrate surface potential of 0.06 eV, corresponding to a net increase in positive charge. The results are consistent with simple thermodynamic considerations; they are also compared to previously reported studies of deposited dielectrics on III-V compound semiconductors.

Vasquez, R. P.↗

Gels and gel-derived glasses in the Na2O-B2O3-SiO2 system

The containerless melting of high-purity multicomponent homogeneous gels and gel-monoliths offers a unique approach to making ultrapure multicomponent optical glasses in the reduced gravity environment of space. Procedures for preparing and characterizing gels and gel-derived glasses in the Na2O-B2O3-SiO2 system are described. Preparation is based on the polymerization reactions of alkoxysilane with trimethyl borate or boric acid and a suitable sodium compound. The chemistry of the gelling process is discussed in terms of process parameters and the gel compositions. The physicochemical nature of gels prepared by three different procedures were found to be significantly different. IR absorption spectra indicate finite differences in the molecular structures of the different gels. The melting of the gel powders and the transformation of porous gel-monoliths to transparent 'glass' without melting are described.

Mukherjee, S. P.↗

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of the chemical structure of thermally nitrided SiO2

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to study the composition of 100-A thermally grown SiO2 films that have been thermally nitrided in ammonia. The SiO(x)N(y)/Si interface was studied both by chemical depth profiling of the oxynitride and by removal of the Si substrate with XeF2. It is found that N is distributed throughout the film, but with the concentration higher at the surface and in a region centered 25 A from the film/substrate interface. The interface region itself is found to be oxygen-rich relative to the rest of the film. Possible models which can explain these results are discussed.

Vasquez, R. P.↗

Gels and gel-derived glasses in the system Na2O-B2O3-SiO2

The containerless melting of high-purity multicomponent homogeneous gels and gel monoliths offers a unique approach to making ultrapure multicomponent optical glasses in the reduced gravity environment of space. Procedures for preparing and characterizing gels and gel-derived glasses in the system Na2O-B2O3-SiO2 are described. Preparation is based on the polymerization reactions of alkoxysilane with trimethyl borate or boric acid and a suitable sodium compound. The chemistry of the gelling process is discussed in terms of process parameters and the gel compositions. The physicochemical nature of gels prepared by three different procedures was found to be significantly different. Infrared absorption spectra indicate finite differences in the molecular structures of the different gels. The melting of the gel powders and the transformation of porous gel monoliths to transparent 'glass' without melting are described.

Mukherjee, S. P.↗

Modelling Equilibrium and Fractional Crystallization in the System MgO-FeO-CaO-Al2O3-SiO2

A mathematical modelling technique for use in petrogenesis calculations in the system MgO-FeO-CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 is reported. Semiempirical phase boundary and elemental distribution information was combined with mass balance to compute approximate equilibrium crystallization paths for arbitrary system compositions. The calculation is applicable to a range of system compositions and fractionation calculations are possible. The goal of the calculation is the computation of the composition and quantity of each phase present as a function of the degree of solidification. The degree of solidification is parameterized by the heat released by the solidifying phases. The mathematical requirement for the solution of this problem is: (1) An equation constraining the composition of the magma for each solid phase in equilibrium with the liquidus phase, and (2) an equation for each solid phase and each component giving the distribution of that element between that phase and the magma.

Herbert, F.↗

Sol-Gel synthesis of MgO-SiO2 glass compositions having stable liquid-liquid immiscibility

MgO-SiO2 glasses containing up to 15 mol % MgO, which could not have been prepared by the conventional glass melting method due to the presence of stable liquid-liquid immiscibility, were synthesized by the sol-gel technique. Clear and transparent gels were obtained from the hydrolysis and polycondensation of silicon tetraethoxide (TEOS) and magnesium nitrate hexahydrate when the water/TEOS mole ratio was four or more. The gelling time decreased with increase in magnesium content, water/TEOS ratio, and reaction temperature. Magnesium nitrate hexahydrate crystallized out of the gels containing 15 and 20 mol % MgO on slow drying. This problem was partially alleviated by drying the gels quickly at higher temperatures. Monolithic gel samples were prepared using glycerol as the drying control additive. The gels were subjected to various thermal treatments and characterized by several methods. No organic groups could be detected in the glasses after heat treatments to approx. 800 C, but trace amounts of hydroxyl groups were still present. No crystalline phase was found from X-ray diffraction in the gel samples to approx. 890 C. At higher temperatures, alpha quartz precipitated out as the crystalline phase in gels containing up to 10 mol % MgO. The overall activation energy for gel formation in 10MgO-90SiO2 (mol %) system for water/TEOS mole ratio of 7.5 was calculated to be 58.7 kJ/mol.

Bansal, Narottam P.↗

Structural studies of gels and gel-glasses in the SiO2-GeO2 system using vibrational spectroscopy

GeO2 gel and gels in the SiO2-GeO2 system synthesized by the hydrolytic polycondensation of metal alkoxides have been studied by infrared and Raman spectroscopic techniques. The molecular structures, hydroxyl contents, and crystallinity of gels and gel-glasses in relation to the thermal history and GeO2 concentration were investigated. The binary compositions having up to 70 mol percent GeO2 were examined.

Mukherjee, Shyama P.↗

Kinetics of low pressure CVD growth of SiO2 on InP and Si

The kinetics of low pressure CVD growth of SiO2 from SiH4 and O2 has been investigated for the case of an indirect (remote) plasma process. Homogeneous (gas phase) and heterogeneous operating ranges have been experimentally identified. The process was shown to be consistent within the heterogeneous surface-reaction dominated range of operation. A kinetic rate equation is given for growth at 14 W RF power input and 400 mtorr total pressure on both InP and Si substrates. The process exhibits an activation energy of 8.4 + or - 0.6 kcal/mol.

Iyer, R.↗

Molecular dynamics of liquid SiO2 under high pressure

The molecular dynamics of pure SiO2 liquids was investigated up to pressures of 20 GPa at 4000 K using 252, 498, 864, and 1371 particles. The results obtained suggest that the pressure-induced maxima in the self-diffusion coefficients of both oxygen and silicon are dependent on the system size. In the case of larger systems, the maximum decreases and shifts to lower pressures. Changes in the velocity autocorrelation function with increasing pressure are described. The populations of anomalously coordinated silicon and oxygen are then discussed as a function of pressure and system size.

Rustad, James R.↗

Tribological evaluation of an Al2O3-SiO2 ceramic fiber candidate for high temperature sliding seals

A test program to determine the relative sliding durability of an alumina-silica candidate ceramic fiber for high temperature sliding seal applications as described. This work represents the first reporting of the sliding durability of this material system. Pin-on-disk tests were used to evaluate the potential seal material by sliding a tow or bundle of the candidate ceramic fiber against a superalloy test disk. Friction was measured during the tests and fiber wear, indicated by the extent of fibers broken in the tow or bundle, was measured at the end of each test. Test variables studied included ambient temperatures from 25 C to 900 C, loads from 1.3 to 21.2 Newtons, and sliding velocities from 0.025 to 0.25 m/sec. In addition, the effects of fiber diameter, elastic modulus, and a pretest fiber heat treatment on friction and wear were measured. In most cases, wear increased with temperature. Friction ranged from about 0.36 at 500 C and low velocity (0.025 m/s) to over 1.1 at 900 C and high velocity (0.25 m/s). The pretest fiber heat treatment, which caused significant durability reductions for alumina-boria-silica ceramic fibers tested previously, had little effect on the alumina-silica fibers tested here. These results indicate that the alumina-silica (Al2O3-SiO2) fiber is a good candidate material system for high temperature sliding seal applications.

Dellacorte, Christopher↗

Shock-induced transformations in the system NaAlSiO4-SiO2 - A new interpretation

New internally consistent interpretations of the phases represented by the high pressure phase shock wave data for an albite-rich rock, jadeite, and nepheline in the system NaAlSiO4-SiO2, are obtained using the results of static high pressure investigations, and the recent discovery of the hollandite phase in a shocked meteorite. We conclude that nepheline transforms directly to the calcium ferrite structure, whereas albite transforms possibly to the hollandite structure. Shock Hugoniots for the other plagioclase and alkali feldspars also indicate that these transform to hollandite structures. The pressure-volume data at high pressure could alternatively represent the compression of an amorphous phase. Moreover, the shock Hugoniot data are expected to reflect the properties of the melt above shock stresses of 60-80 GPa. The third order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state parameters are given for the calcium ferrite type NaAlSiO4 and for albite-rich, orthoclase-rich, and anorthite-rich hollandites.

Sekine, Toshimori↗

Application of high-quality SiO2 grown by multipolar ECR source to Si/SiGe MISFET

A 5 nm-thick SiO2 gate was grown on an Si(p+)/Si(0.8)Ge(0.2) modulation-doped heterostructure at 26 C with an oxygen plasma generated by a multipolar electron cyclotron resonance source. The ultrathin oxide has breakdown field above 12 MV/cm and fixed charge density about 3 x 10 exp 10/sq cm. Leakage current as low as 1/micro-A was obtained with the gate biased at 4 V. The MISFET with 0.25 x 25 sq m gate shows maximum drain current of 41.6 mA/mm and peak transconductance of 21 mS/mm.

Sung, K. T.↗

Tribological evaluation of an Al2O3-SiO2 ceramic fiber candidate for high temperature sliding seals

A test program to determine the relative sliding durability of an alumina-silica candidate ceramic fiber for high temperature sliding seal applications is described. Pin-on-disk tests were used to evaluate the potential seal material by sliding a tow or bundle of the candidate ceramic fiber against a superalloy test disk. Friction was measured during the tests and fiber wear, indicated by the extent of fibers broken in the tow or bundle, was measured at the end of each test. Test variables studied included ambient temperatures from 25 to 900 C, loads from 1.3 to 21.2 N, and sliding velocities from 0.025 to 0.25 m/sec. In addition, the effects of fiber diameter and elastic modulus on friction and wear were measured. Thin gold films deposited on the superalloy disk surface were evaluated in an effort to reduce friction and wear of the fibers. In most cases, wear increased with test temperature. Friction ranged from 0.36 at 500 C and low velocity (0.025 m/sec) to over 1.1 at 900 C and high velocity (0.25 m/sec). The gold films resulted in satisfactory lubrication of the fibers at 25 C. At elevated temperatures diffusion of substrate elements degraded the films. These results indicate that the alumina-silica (Al2O3-SiO2) fiber is a good candidate material system for high temperature sliding seal applications. More work is needed to reduce friction.

Dellacorte, Christopher↗

Luminescence of Eu(3+) doped SiO2 Thin Films and Glass Prepared by Sol-gel Technology

Trivalent europium ions are an important luminophore for lighting and display. The emission of (5)D0 to (7)F2 transition exhibits a red color at about 610 nm, which is very attractive and fulfills the requirement for most red-emitting phosphors including lamp and cathode ray phosphorescence materials. Various EU(3+) doped phosphors have been developed, and luminescence properties have been extensively studied. On the other hand, sol-gel technology has been well developed by chemists. In recent years, applications of this technology to optical materials have drawn a great attention. Sol-gel technology provides a unique way to obtain homogeneous composition distribution and uniform doping, and the processing temperature can be very low. In this work, EU(3+) doped SiO2 thin films and glasses were prepared by sol-gel technology and their spectroscopic properties were investigated.

Castro, Lymari↗

Feature Profile Evolution of SiO2 Trenches In Fluorocarbon Plasmas

Etching of silicon microstructures for semiconductor manufacturing in chlorine plasmas has been well characterized. The etching proceeds in a two-part process, where the chlorine neutrals passivate the Si surface and then the ions etch away SiClx. However, etching in more complicated gas mixtures and materials, such as etching of SiO2 in Ar/C4F8, requires knowledge of the ion and neutral distribution functions as a function of angle and velocity, in addition to modeling the gas surface reactions. In order to address these needs, we have developed and integrated a suite of models to simulate the etching process from the plasma reactor level to the feature profile evolution level. This arrangement allows for a better understanding, control, and prediction of the influence of equipment level process parameters on feature profile evolution. We are currently using the HPEM (Hybrid Plasma Equipment Model) and PCMCM (Plasma Chemistry Monte Carlo Model) to generate plasma properties and ion and neutral distribution functions for argon/fluorocarbon discharges in a GEC Reference Cell. These quantities are then input to the feature scale model, Simulation of Profile Evolution by Level Sets (SPELS). A surface chemistry model is used to determine the interaction of the incoming species with the substrate material and simulate the evolution of the trench profile. The impact of change of gas pressure and inductive power on the relative flux of CFx and F to the wafer, the etch and polymerization rates, and feature profiles will be examined. Comparisons to experimental profiles will also be presented.

Hwang, Helen↗

Low-Power RIE of SiO2 in CHF3 To Obtain Steep Sidewalls

A reactive-ion etching (RIE) process has been developed to enable the formation of holes with steep sidewalls in a layer of silicon dioxide that covers a silicon substrate. The holes in question are through the thickness of the SiO2 and are used to define silicon substrate areas to be etched or to be built upon through epitaxial deposition of silicon. The sidewalls of these holes are required to be vertical in order to ensure that the sidewalls of the holes to be etched in the substrate or the sidewalls of the epitaxial deposits, respectively, also turn out to be vertical.

Turner, Tasha↗