Interstitial supersaturation near phosphorus-diffused emitter zones in silicon

Abstract
Bipolar transistors with consecutively diffused boron base and phosphorus emitter showing the ’’emitter‐push effect’’ have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The analysis of isolated dislocation helices in the emitter and base regions indicates the presence of a self‐interstitial supersaturation in front of the phosphorus‐diffused zone. This result refutes the widely accepted explanation of the ’’emitter‐push effect’’ in terms of a phosphorus‐induced vacancy supersaturation.