Reactively sputtered ZrN used as an Al/Si diffusion barrier in a Zr contact to silicon

An evaluation of the processing of zirconium nitride and the usefulness of this nitride as a diffusion barrier between aluminum and silicon has been carried out. Reactive sputtering from an elemental zirconium target in a mixture of Ar/N2 makes it possible to change the nitrogen content in the deposited film. The composition variation with N2 concentration will be presented. Films have been prepared using rf‐diode reactive sputtering. The as‐deposited film resistivity dependence on bias voltage has also been studied. Zirconium deposited on silicon forms a silicide at 550–600 °C. We have found by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy analysis that during this silicide formation on arsenic implanted silicon substrates, the arsenic is piled up at the silicon/silicide interface. This effect favors the formation of a low resistance Ohmic contact. Since the barrier height between the silicide and silicon is expected to be 0.55 eV we want to point out that this contact may be useful for both n‐ and p‐type regio...