Epioptics Applied to Semiconductor Interfaces

Objective

Emerging process technologies for fabricating sub-micron and nanoscale semiconductor devices and novel multilayer materials all require extremely precise control of growth at surfaces. In situ, non-destructive, real-time monitoring and characterisation of surfaces under growth conditions are needed for further progress in this area, with atomic scale resolution. The main aim of this project is to demonstrate the use of new epioptic techniques for in situ growth monitoring and non-destructive characterisation, for MOVPE, MBE and MOMBE growth in dedicated III-V reactors.
New techniques for determining the properties of materials used in information technology devices are being developed. Light is used as both probe and signal (epioptics), with extremely high spatial resolution. In contrast to existing techniques, epioptics can be used in situ, while growing crystalline material, in all environments.

So far 3 major results have been obtained. Growth of III-V epitaxial layers in an atmospheric pressure metal organic vapour phase epitaxy (MOVPE) reactor has been monitored in real time, with submonolayer resolution, using reflection anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS). The number of single atomic layers grown is simply determined by counting the number of oscillations in the RAS signal.
Growth of II-VI epitaxial layers has been monitored, in situ and in real time, using Raman spectroscopy, with submonolayer resolution and evidence of chemical reactivity at the II-VI, III-V interface has been obtained.
A combination of linear optical theory and experiment has resolved a long standing controversy on the nature of the dimer structure on the surface of silicon(001).
APPROACH AND METHODS

EPIOPTIC (3177) showed that new optical techniques have great potential in the area of emerging process technologies: monolayer sensitivity, in situ monitoring of semiconductor growth and complimentary information from different epioptic techniques have been demonstrated on model systems.

In EASI new epioptic techniques for in situ growth monitoring and non-destructive characterisation for MOVPE, MBE and MOMBE III-V growth reactors. In addition, a preliminary assessment of epioptic probes for ultra-clean silicon processing diagnostics will be made. An improved understanding of the origins of the epioptic response from surfaces and interfaces will be sought by studying examples of silicide, III-V and II-VI interfaces in detail, with strong theoretical and conventional surface diagnostics back-up. Six main epioptic techniques will be used: reflectance anisotropy and reflectance difference spectroscopies, spectroscopic ellipsometry, optical second harmonic generation, Raman scattering and photoreflectance. An interdisciplinary team has been assembled to produce a vertically integrated structure: theoretical and experimental physicists, materials scientists, crystal growers and materials analysts.

POTENTIAL

EASI has already demonstrated the feasibility of using optical probes to monitor growth of thin-film IT materials with submonolayer resolution in situ and under all growth conditions. Implementing these new characterisation techniques should result in improved materials and higher yields for the fabrication of future IT semiconductor devices.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › materials engineering › crystals
• natural sciences › physical sciences › electromagnetism and electronics › semiconductivity
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › inorganic chemistry › metalloids
• natural sciences › earth and related environmental sciences › atmospheric sciences › meteorology › atmospheric pressure
• natural sciences › physical sciences › optics › spectroscopy

Programme(s)

• FP3-ESPRIT 3 - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of information technologies, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

Data not available

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

Data not available

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN

Address

Trinity College
Dublin 2
Ireland

Participants (8)

MARTIN-LUTHER-UNIVERSITÄT HALLE-WITTENBERG

Germany

Address

Universitätplatz 10
06108 Halle

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT BERLIN

Germany

Address

Salzufer 17-19
10587 Berlin

THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL

United Kingdom

Address

Oxford Street
L69 7ZE Liverpool

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI MESSINA

Italy

Address

Messina

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK

Ireland

Address

Prospect Row
Cork

University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST)

United Kingdom

Address

Sackville Street
M60 1QD Manchester

University of Wales, Cardiff

United Kingdom

Address

CF1 1XL Cardiff

Università degli Studi di Genova

Italy

Address

Via Dodecaneso 35
16146 Genova