Ion implantation of carbon and silicon into Ge ₂Sb ₂Te ₅: Ion profiles and post crystallization redistribution

Abstract

Ion implantation of Ge 2Sb 2Te 5 (GST) enables localized doping of the film by using conventional lithography. Although the doped region dimensions and the doping concentration profile are defined by the opening in the mask and the ion energy, longitudinal and lateral straggling of implanted ions leads to a spread in the ions final location. Additionally, a thermal treatment such as one that induces a phase transition may lead to redistribution of the implanted dopants and further increase the spread. In this work we demonstrate doping of GST by ion implantation. Using Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) we studied the as-implanted doping profiles obtain by ion implantation of carbon and silicon into GST. We also investigated by SIMS the dopant redistribution following a recrystallization annealing. The as-implanted ion profiles were found to be in fair agreement with TRIM simulation. The dopants profiles show little change after a crystallization annealing at 200°C for silicon doping and at 350°C for carbon doping. © 2011 Materials Research Society.