Modification of Recombination Activity of Dislocations in Si and SiGe by Contamination and Hydrogenation

Temperature-dependent (80 … 300 K) measurements of dislocation recombination activity by the electron-beam-induced-current (EBIC) technique are reported. Controlled Cu contamination (ppb to ppm range), chemomechanical polishing and hydrogenation treatments were applied to alter dislocation properties. Increasing Cu level is found not only to increase the electrical activity of misfit dislocations in SiGe/Si structures at 300 K, but also to change its dependence on temperature. At low contamination, shallow centres control dislocation activity while deep centres are characteristic at higher Cu levels. Heavy Cu contamination results in very strong recombination activity which is attributed to precipitates. Chemomechanical polishing has an effect which is analogous to medium Cu contamination. Hydrogenation was found to passivate recombination activity at 300 K, but did not show pronounced effects on activity at low temperature.