Surface and interface characterization of ion beam re-crystallized Si

In the present work we have studied efficacy of ion beam induced epitaxial crystallization (IBIEC) to recover amorphous layers (300 - 350 nm) produced by MeV Kr ions in Si(100) and studied the associated changes occurring on surface and interface of the recrystallized region. IBIEC experiments were carried out at sample temperatures in the range of 200 - 400degreesC using 1 MeV N+ ion beam. Rutherford backscattering-Channeling technique showed planar and gradual recovery of the amorphous layer as a function of temperature. Transmission electron microscopy measurements show good crystalline structure of the recovered region at 400degreesC while at lower temperatures nano-crystalline Si fon-nation embedded in the amorphous structure is evident. The surface topography studied by atomic force microscopy shows development of islands after IBIEC. The rms roughness is around 0.5 nm and average height of the islands is found to be 1.8 nm. The observed epitaxial growth and the surface topographical features have been correlated.