Segregations and desorptions of Ge atoms in nanocomposite Si1-xGex films during high-temperature annealing

Nanocomposite Si1-xGex films are deposited by dual-source jet-type inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition(jet-ICPCVD).The segregations and desorptions of Ge atoms,which dominate the structural evolutions of the films during high-temperature annealing,are investigated.When the annealing temperature(Ta)is 900~℃,the nanocomposite Si1-xGex films are well crystallized,and nanocrystals(NCs)with the core-shell structure form in the films.After being annealed at 1000~℃(above the melting point of bulk Ge),Ge atoms accumulate on the surfaces of Ge-rich films,whereas pits appear on films with lower Ge content,resulting from desorption.Meanwhile,voids are observed in the films.A cone-like structure involving the percolation of the homogeneous clusters and the crystallization of NCs enhances Ge segregation.