EPITAXIAL GROWTH OF THIN SMOOTH GERMANIUM (Ge) ON SILICON (Si) UTILIZING AN INTERFACIAL SILICON GERMANIUM (SiGe) PULSE GROWTH METHOD

摘要

Disclosed is a method of growing thin and smooth germanium (Ge) on a strained or relaxed silicon (Si) layer comprising the steps of: (a) treating surface of the strained or relaxed Si layer to gaseous precursors of both Si (e.g., silane) and Ge (e.g., germane) for a predetermined short time duration Δt, where 1≦Δt≦30 seconds; and (b) depositing a thin Ge film on top of said treated Si layer, wherein said treatment step of (a) reduces growth time and surface roughness of the thin Ge film (e.g., sub-5 nm or sub-20 nm thick) deposited on the Si layer. The treatment step (a) can be conducted at a steady predetermined temperature T, where 450≦T≦900° C. The predetermined short time duration Δt can be chosen such that less than 10 A of SiGe is deposited.