Ether-like Si-Ge hydrides for applications in synthesis of nanostructured semiconductors and dielectrics.
Hydrolysis reactions of silyl-germyl triflates are used to produce ether-like Si-Ge hydride compounds including H(3)SiOSiH(3) and the previously unknown O(SiH(2)GeH(3))(2). The structural, energetic and vibrational properties of the latter were investigated by experimental and quantum chemical simulation methods. A combined Raman, infrared and theoretical analysis indicated that the compound consists of an equal mixture of linear and gauche isomers in analogy to the butane-like H(3)GeSiH(2)SiH(2)GeH(3) with an exceedingly small torsional barrier of approximately 0.2 kcal mol(-1). This is also corroborated by thermochemistry simulations which indicate that the energy difference between the isomers is less than 1 kcal mol(-1). Proof-of-principle depositions of O(SiH(2)GeH(3))(2) at 500 degrees C on Si(100) yielded nearly stoichiometric Si(2)Ge(2)O materials, closely reflecting the composition of the molecular core. A complete characterization of the film by RBS, XTEM, Raman and IR ellipsometry revealed the presence of Si(0.30)Ge(0.70) quantum dots embedded within an amorphous matrix of Si-Ge-O suboxide, as required for the fabrication of high performance nonvolatile memory devices. The use of readily available starting materials coupled with facile purification and high yields also makes the above molecular approach an attractive synthesis route to H(3)SiOSiH(3) with industrial applications in the formation of Si-O-N high-k gate materials in high-mobility SiGe based transistors.
Compositional dependence of optical interband transition energies in GeSn and GeSiSn alloys
Abstract The dielectric functions of GeSn and GeSiSn alloys were measured in the 1–6 eV energy range using spectroscopic ellipsometry. The contributions from the E 1 , E 1  + Δ 1 , E 0 ′, E 2 , and E 1 ′ critical points in the joint density of electronic states were enhanced by computing numerical second derivatives of the measured dielectric function, and the resulting lineshapes were fitted with model expressions from which the critical point energies, amplitudes, broadenings, and phases were determined. A detailed analysis of the compositional dependence of the different transition energies is presented. By describing this dependence in terms of quadratic polynomials, the bowing parameter (quadratic coefficient) for each transition is determined. It is shown that the bowing parameters in the ternary alloy follow a distinct chemical trend, in which the ternary is well described in terms of bowing parameters for the underlying binary alloys, and these bowing parameters increase as a function of the size and electronegativity mismatch of the alloy constituents.
Synthesis and characterization of the (halosilyl)methylsilanes
Abstract The previously unreported (halosilyl)methylsilanes, XSiH 2 CH 2 SiH 3 (X = F, Cl, Br, and I), were synthesized and characterized by PMR, infrared, mass spectra, vapor pressure data, and melting points. In addition, a new preparation of the parent hydride, disilylmethane, is described.