Formation of iron and iron silicides on silicon and iron surfaces. Role of the deposition rate and volumetric effects

Brief observe on iron silicide growth on amorphous silicon

“…In this brief observe, we summarize our recent results on this item and draw attention to the possibility to modify the film formation processes by using an intermediate layer of amorphous silicon on the substrate surface [1][2][3]. In our opinion, the advantages of this method are as follows.…”

“…4. Due to deeper intermixing, formation of supercritical nuclei of silicides can take place deep under the surface where, due to volumetric effects, very high internal strains (of the order of a few GPa) can develop (see [3] for details). This promises creation of new silicide phases which do not form under normal conditions.…”

“…Such interest is quite natural since these elements are environment-friendly, widespread in the nature and their compounds have various properties which can be used in applications. The silicides Fe 3 Si and Fe 5 Si 3 are ferromagnetic; perhaps, they could be used in spintronics and in the magnetic memory media integrated with processors, produced within the usual Silicon technology. The semiconducting silicides β-FeSi 2 and Mg 2 Si can be applied in optoelectronics since they have the band gap of ~ 0.85 eV which corresponds to the photon wavelength suitable for transmitting signals via the fiber optic lines (~ 1.5 micrometers).…”

“…This is because many processes simultaneously take place during film formation: surface diffusion, atom clustering, island formation, intermixing with the substrate material, chemical reactions etc. These processes depend both on the deposition way (such as atom flow intensity or angle [1][2][3]) and the state of the substrate surface (temperature, different templates etc.). Control of these parameters promises achievement of selective growth of predefined structures.…”

Formation of Mg silicides on amorphous Si. Origin and role of high pressure in the film growth

“…In the processes of intermixing and silicide formation, volumetric effects are involved [12]. These effects originate from the difference in the volume per atom values, which are specific for each set of reagents and the product.…”