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Investigation of the interface integrity of the thermally stable WN/GaAs Schottky contracts

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5874794

WN{sub x}/GaAs Schottky contacts formed by reactive sputtering were found to be thermally stable up to an annealing temperature of {approximately}900{degrees}C. The interface morphology and structure of this contact under high temperature annealing conditions ( > 700{degrees}C) have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray diffractometry techniques. For the as-deposited samples, the thin film had an amorphous structure. After annealing at high temperatures, the amorphous phase transformed to {alpha}-W and W{sub 2}N phases. However, the contact interface remained thermally stable up to 850{degrees}C. Cross-sectional TEM micrographs revealed that annealing at temperatures above 850{degrees}C resulted in the formation of pockets'' beneath the interface. This phenomenon has been correlated with the electrical properties of the contacts, e.g., an enhancement of the barrier height of the contact. Comparisons between the interface morphology of this system and other refractory metal nitride contacts (e.g., TiN/GaAs) are also presented.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE; DOD; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); Department of Defense, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
5874794
Report Number(s):
LBL-27942; CONF-890426--35; ON: DE92008302; CNN: N00014-86-K-0668
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English