Limitations on Activation of High Dose Ge implant in beta-Ga2O3

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Luo, Tianhai, Gann, Katie R., Gorsak, Cameron A., Chang, Ming-Chiang, Evans, Prescott E, Asel, Thaddeus J, Nair, Hari P, van Dover, R. B., Thompson, Michael O.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Luo, Tianhai
Gann, Katie R.
Gorsak, Cameron A.
Chang, Ming-Chiang
Evans, Prescott E
Asel, Thaddeus J
Nair, Hari P
van Dover, R. B.
Thompson, Michael O.
author_facet Luo, Tianhai
Gann, Katie R.
Gorsak, Cameron A.
Chang, Ming-Chiang
Evans, Prescott E
Asel, Thaddeus J
Nair, Hari P
van Dover, R. B.
Thompson, Michael O.
contents Among ultrawide bandgap semiconductors, beta-Ga2O3 is particularly promising for high power and frequency applications. For devices, n-type concentrations above 10^19 cm^-3 are required. Ge is a promising alternative n-type dopant with an ionic radius similar to Ga. Homoepitaxial 010 beta-Ga2O3 films were implanted with Ge to form 50 and 100 nm box concentration of 3*10^19 cm^-3 and 5*10^19 cm^-3, with damage ranging from 1.2 to 2.0 displacement per atom. For lower damage implants, optimized anneals in ultrahigh purity N2 at 950-1000 C for 5-10 minutes resulted in Rs of 600-700 omega/sqr, mobilities of 60-70 cm^2/Vs, and Ge activation of up to 40%. For higher damage implants, activation dropped to 23% with similar mobilities. Ge diffusion, measured by second ion mass spectrometry, showed formation of a Ge "clustering peak" with a concentration exceeding the initial implant following anneals in N2 or O2 at 950-1000 C. Beyond this peak, minimal Ge diffusion occurred for N2 anneals at 950 C, but at 1050 C non-Fickian diffusion extended to >200 nm. Electrical activation data suggests that clustered Ge is electrically inactive. To understand Ge clustering, several samples were characterized by synchrotron x-ray diffraction. Second-phase precipitates were observed in as-implanted samples which then fully dissoved after furnace annealing in N2 at 1050 C. Diffraction peaks suggest these implant-induced precipitates may be related to a high pressure Pa-3 phase of GeO2, and may evolve during anneals to explain the Ge clustering. Ultimately, we believe Ge clustering limits activation of implanted Ge at high concentrations.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_19674
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Limitations on Activation of High Dose Ge implant in beta-Ga2O3
Luo, Tianhai
Gann, Katie R.
Gorsak, Cameron A.
Chang, Ming-Chiang
Evans, Prescott E
Asel, Thaddeus J
Nair, Hari P
van Dover, R. B.
Thompson, Michael O.
Materials Science
Among ultrawide bandgap semiconductors, beta-Ga2O3 is particularly promising for high power and frequency applications. For devices, n-type concentrations above 10^19 cm^-3 are required. Ge is a promising alternative n-type dopant with an ionic radius similar to Ga. Homoepitaxial 010 beta-Ga2O3 films were implanted with Ge to form 50 and 100 nm box concentration of 3*10^19 cm^-3 and 5*10^19 cm^-3, with damage ranging from 1.2 to 2.0 displacement per atom. For lower damage implants, optimized anneals in ultrahigh purity N2 at 950-1000 C for 5-10 minutes resulted in Rs of 600-700 omega/sqr, mobilities of 60-70 cm^2/Vs, and Ge activation of up to 40%. For higher damage implants, activation dropped to 23% with similar mobilities. Ge diffusion, measured by second ion mass spectrometry, showed formation of a Ge "clustering peak" with a concentration exceeding the initial implant following anneals in N2 or O2 at 950-1000 C. Beyond this peak, minimal Ge diffusion occurred for N2 anneals at 950 C, but at 1050 C non-Fickian diffusion extended to >200 nm. Electrical activation data suggests that clustered Ge is electrically inactive. To understand Ge clustering, several samples were characterized by synchrotron x-ray diffraction. Second-phase precipitates were observed in as-implanted samples which then fully dissoved after furnace annealing in N2 at 1050 C. Diffraction peaks suggest these implant-induced precipitates may be related to a high pressure Pa-3 phase of GeO2, and may evolve during anneals to explain the Ge clustering. Ultimately, we believe Ge clustering limits activation of implanted Ge at high concentrations.
title Limitations on Activation of High Dose Ge implant in beta-Ga2O3
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.19674