Enhanced thermal stability of C49 TiSi2 in the presence of aluminum

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Abstract
The introduction of a thin layer of Al at the interface between Ti films and Si substrates enhances the formation of C49 TiSi2 and retards the transition from C49 to C54. An Al interlayer, 0.64 nm thick, reduces the time required to form C49 TiSi2 isothermally at 500 °C from 14 to 7 min. The C49–C54 transformation temperature is increased from 767 to 853 °C, when heating the samples at a constant ramp rate of 3 K/s. Most of the Al is found toward the interface between a Ti-rich silicide at the surface and TiSi2, rather than at the interface between TiSi2 and the Si substrate. The grain size of the C49 TiSi2 formed in the presence of Al is about five times smaller than that formed on a control sample with pure Ti, indicating that the increased density of grain boundaries in C49 TiSi2 in the presence of Al does not help the C49–C54 transformation. Therefore, the improved thermal stability of C49 TiSi2 is likely to be caused by other factors such as a reduced electron/atom ratio when replacing Si with Al in the disilicide.