Second harmonic generation and simplified bond hyperpolarizability model analyses on the intermixing of Si/SiGe stacked multilayers for gate-all-around structure

Si/SiGe stacked multilayers are key elements in fabrication of gate-all-around (GAA) structures and improvement of electrical properties, with the evolution of the Si/SiGe interfaces playing a crucial role. In this work, a model is developed based on the simplified bond hyperpolarizability model (SBHM) to analysis the anisotropic reflective second harmonic generation (Ani-RSHG) on a three-period stacked Si/Si1-x Ge (x) multilayer, which builds on Si(100) diamond structures. The C (4v) symmetry of the Si(100) structure enables the second harmonic generation (SHG) contribution from the bonds to be simplified and the effective hyperpolarizabilities of the interfacial and bulk sources to be obtained. The effective interface dipolar and bulk quadrupolar SHG hyperpolarizabilities in the Si1-x Ge (x) sample with various Ge concentration profiles are modeled by interpreting the concentration of a component element as the probability of the element occupying an atomic site. On the basis of the developed model, the Ani-RSHG spectra of the as-grown samples with various Ge ratios for each layer and the samples annealed at 850 degrees C and 950 degrees C are analyzed to inspect the change in Ge distribution and its gradient in depth. The ani-RSHG analysis on as-grown samples showed difference in Ge distribution in samples with the multi Si/SiGe structure, which is not well observed in synchrotron x-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra. For the annealed samples, the response to changes in Ge concentration and its gradient in depth reveal the Si/Si1-x Ge (x) interface intermixing. Results of high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy agree well with the Ani-RSHG with SBHM findings. Compared with the Raman and synchrotron XRD spectra, the Ani-RSHG with SBHM simulation result demonstrates much better response to changes in compositions of the Si/Si1-x Ge (x) stacked multilayered structures, verifying the potential for characterizing the concentration distribution in stacked multilayered thin films for GAA structures.

Automated summary

A model based on the simplified bond hyperpolarizability model (SBHM) is developed to analyze the anisotropic reflective second harmonic generation (Ani-RSHG) on a three-period stacked Si/Si1-x Ge (x) multilayer. The model is used to study the change in Ge distribution and its gradient in depth by analyzing the Ani-RSHG spectra of the as-grown and annealed samples. The results demonstrate the potential of the model for characterizing the concentration distribution in stacked multilayered thin films.