Composition Dependent Electrical Transport in Si1-xGex Nanosheets with Monolithic Single-Elementary Al Contacts

Si1-xGex is a key material in modern complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor and bipolar devices. However, despite considerable efforts in metal-silicide and -germanide compound material systems, reliability concerns have so far hindered the implementation of metal-Si1-xGex junctions that are vital for diverse emerging More than Moore and quantum computing paradigms. In this respect, the systematic structural and electronic properties of Al-Si1-xGex heterostructures, obtained from a thermally induced exchange between ultra-thin Si1-xGex nanosheets and Al layers are reported. Remarkably, no intermetallic phases are found after the exchange process. Instead, abrupt, flat, and void-free junctions of high structural quality can be obtained. Interestingly, ultra-thin interfacial Si layers are formed between the metal and Si1-xGex segments, explaining the morphologic stability. Integrated into omega-gated Schottky barrier transistors with the channel length being defined by the selective transformation of Si1-xGex into single-elementary Al leads, a detailed analysis of the transport is conducted. In this respect, a report on a highly versatile platform with Si1-xGex composition-dependent properties ranging from highly transparent contacts to distinct Schottky barriers is provided. Most notably, the presented abrupt, robust, and reliable metal-Si1-xGex junctions can open up new device implementations for different types of emerging nanoelectronic, optoelectronic, and quantum devices.

Automated summary

This study reports on the systematic structural and electronic properties of Al-Si1-xGex heterostructures obtained through thermally induced exchange. The resulting junctions exhibit high structural quality with no intermetallic phases, and ultra-thin interfacial Si layers contribute to the morphologic stability. The findings provide a versatile platform with Si1-xGex composition-dependent properties, which can open up new device implementations for emerging nanoelectronic, optoelectronic, and quantum devices.