400 °C Formation of poly-SiGe on SiO2 by Au-induced lateral crystallization

Au-induced low-temperature (400 °C) crystallization of amorphous-Si1−xGex (x: 0-1) thin films on SiO2 has been investigated. Although the growth velocity decreased with increasing Ge fraction, growth velocity exceeding 20 μm/h was obtained in all Ge fractions. As a result, strain-free poly-Si1−xGex with large areas (>20 μm) were obtained at a low temperature (400 °C). These new polycrystalline SiGe films on insulator could be used for advanced system in display and three-dimensional ULSI.