Advanced Techniques to Decrease Defect Density in Molecular Beam Epitaxial Silicon Films

Defect density dependence on various surface cleaning conditions for molecular beam epitaxial (MBE) silicon films was investigated. Defect-free films were obtained on (100) and (511) wafers, using a combination of ozone cleaning and predeposition process after the usual wet cleaning. On the (111) wafer, the defect density dependence on growth rate was examined. The two-step growth-rate procedure was effective in decreasing stacking faults on the (111) wafer. The difference in defect density between (100) and (111) wafers is also discussed.