Formation of silicon oxide over gold layers on silicon substrates

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Abstract
When a single‐crystal substrate of silicon is covered with evaporated gold and heated at relatively low temperatures (100–300°C) in an oxidizing atmosphere, a silicon‐dioxide layer is readily formed over the gold layer. The mechanism and factors controlling this low‐temperature oxide formation have been investigated using backscattering of 2‐MeV He+ ions. The oxide layer is nonuniform in thickness and the initial growth of this layer is proportional to (time)1/2. Both oxidizing ambient and orientation of the substrate influence the growth rate, and the amount of gold determines the final thickness of oxide. A model is proposed to explain the oxide‐growth mechanism.