Recombination at clean and decorated misfit dislocations

The electrical activity of interfacial misfit dislocations in silicon has been examined using the electron beam induced current technique in a scanning electron microscope. Clean dislocations formed during high-temperature Si(Ge) chemical vapor epitaxy were studied. These defects were subsequently decorated with known metallic impurities (Au and Ni) by diffusion at different temperatures from a backside evaporated layer. Differences in electrical activity are discussed in relation to the detection limits of electron beam induced current technique and energy levels anticipated for the clean or decorated dislocations.