Precipitates and defects in silicon co-implanted with helium and oxygen

Nano-bubbles or voids introduced by He implantation before the oxygen implantation collect oxygen and increase the oxygen content in the sample. Furthermore, nano-bubbles or voids can trap Si interstitials to decrease the dislocations at the edge of precipitates. The density and shape of precipitates formed in the initial stage of the separation-by-implanted-oxygen process are related to the size and density of He-induced vacancy-type defects (nano-bubbles and voids). A high density of nano-bubbles is more efficient in gettering than that of a low density of voids.